Crisis in America's Criminal Courts - (Applied Criminology Across the Globe) by William R Kelly (Paperback)

About the Book

This book highlights the variety of problems that judges, prosecutors, and public defenders face within a criminal justice system that is ineffective, unfair, and extraordinarily expensive. Much of the dysfunction originates from crushing dockets and caseloads combined with t...

Book Synopsis

This book highlights the variety of problems that judges, prosecutors, and public defenders face within a criminal justice system that is ineffective, unfair, and extraordinarily expensive. Much of the dysfunction originates from crushing dockets and caseloads combined with the lack of time, expertise, and resources for effective decision-making.

Review Quotes

Few would argue that the U.S. criminal justice system is fit for purpose. In 2016, it employed more than 2.1 million people and cost $240 billion, yet recidivism rates remain stubbornly high. Kelly argues that the tough-on-crime policies advocated by many states and district attorneys must be replaced with smart-on-crime, evidence-based reforms. He believes that prosecutorial discretion lies at the heart of reform and that by transforming decision making, prosecutors could effect change; he writes that pretrial and courtroom decisions are particularly ripe for reform. As more progressive prosecutors are elected, Kelly sees hope for meaningful change that focuses less on retributive justice and more on behavioral change models that acknowledge social circumstances associated with crime. He stresses that a key step is identifying criminality and developing assessment and intervention plans, rather than relying on case processing and intuitive decision making, which often allow judges to fall prey to their own biases, including racial bias. Replete with statistics and references, this engaging, compelling book will appeal to both lay and professional readers.

About the Author

William R. Kelly is professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas. He is the author of several books and articles on criminal justice, law, and policy, including Confronting Underground Justice: Reinventing Plea Bargaining for Effective Criminal Justice Reform (Rowman & Littlefield, 2018), From Retribution to Public Safety (Rowman & Littlefield, 2017), The Future of Crime and Punishment, Updated Edition (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019), Criminal Justice at the Crossroads (2015), and Justice Under Pressure (1993).