Gates of Injustice: The Crisis in America's Prisons

by Alan Elsner

Book Overview

"Gates of Injustice" is a compelling expose of the U.S. prison system: it tells how more than 2 million Americans came to be incarcerated what it's really like on the inside and how a giant... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0131881795
• ISBN13: 9780131881792
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: FT Press
• Length: 283 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

An Invaluable Contribution

This is a very fine work on a serious subject which impacts us all. The author judiciously combines hard facts and statistics with "human stories" to present a compelling argument as to why the "crisis in America's prisons" needs to be heeded by everyone. The real strength of the book is that it doesn't matter what end of the political spectrum you come from or what your views on punishment vs. rehabilitation are. In the final analysis, basic rational self-interest dictates that the central problems identified in this book - massively rising costs, the creation of a permanent criminal underclass who are "recycled" back into society, catastrophic mistreatment of the mentally ill and the spread of infectious diseases - need to be addressed by society as a whole because none of us are insulated from their effects. Of course it hardly needs to be said that many of the stories, particularly those about the mal-treatment of highly vulnerable inmates - the physically weak, the mentally ill and the young - are heartbreaking and I don't want to downplay this aspect of the book as it's one of its great strengths. However for the many who chose to paint their world view on a black and white 'good guys vs. bad guys' canvas (and, I'd suggest that it's this way of thinking, at least in part, that has contributed to the current problems), this book should be equally persuasive. In the words of the Reagan-appointed Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is quoted in the final chapter of the book: "...Our resources are misspent, our punishments too severe, our sentences too long". I'd like to finish this review with a question inspired by this book: at a time when America has invested so much in spreading it's message of civilization and democracy abroad, how is this aided by many of its own States still requiring that incarcerated pregnant women deliver their offspring in shackles ?

Gates of Injustice

A friend recommended I read this book. At first I didn't want to, but after a few pages I was hooked. I had no idea of some of the horrors that go on in our prisons. Women being forced to give birth chained to beds, guards putting prisoners in restraints for 48 hours, seriously disturbed mentally ill people living lives of misery and making life miserable for all around them. I am not soft on crime but I don't support abuse either. And Mr. Elsner has proven to me that our prisons are way too abusive. He has also given a good deal of thought to fixing some of the larger problems. This is a tough-minded book but it is also a sensible and rational one. I recommend it to anyone who cares about our nation.

America's Dark Secret

Alan Elsner has captured the dark picture of America's secret. He has revealed to all his readers the stark reality of what America's desire for vengance has cost. Get tough on crime makes good political sound byte. Lock them up and throw away the key wins elections. The reality of "out of sight - out of mind" has lead to a picture of America that is more comfortable in a third-world dictatorship. Our prisons become darker and darker places as they devour people of color, women, the mentally ill, the addicted, and the inept. I spent the last thirty years working in the prison system, while watching it get bigger and "badder." Now as a professor, I am trying to tell my criminal justice students that America can do a better job finding justice other than locking up everyone that doesn't fit in. Alan Elsner captures the reality of a place that cannot help but be awful. The best of prisons are terrible, dark places. Every American should read this book and ask himself, "Is this the best the 'land of the free' can do?" Good work Alan on writing about a subject that most Americans don't want to think about.This book will be mandatory reading for my criminal justice students.

LA Prosecutor

The book is terrific! It is a must read for anyone who has an interest in the criminal justice system. The book is more than just an expose on what is wrong with this country's prisons. What makes this book special is the stories of individuals who have been unnecessarily abused while in prison or jail, sometimes resulting in death. No one will be able to finish this book without being moved. The tales of the mentally ill (does everyone know that the 3 largest facilities for the mentally ill in this country are jails?) are particularly engaging. In fact, I suspect Mr. Elsner has made himself some enemies. There are probably prison wardens and prison guard unions across the nation who will not be inviting him to dinner any time soon.The book makes 2 compelling points: first, the problems in the prisons cannot be isolated to the prisons and second, the solutions do not require additional spending but rather some long range thinking. As a prosecutor in LA for the past 19 years, I don't agree with every point that the author makes and I don't consider myself soft on crime. Nonetheless, I will take the book to work and encourage all my colleagues to read it. The book is an important reminder of the negative consequences of a "lock em up and throw away the key" attitude. The author obviously did his homework. One can only hope that lawmakers read the book and make an effort to give the system more balance. Most prisoner will get out. Treating prisoners' illnesses and giving them a minimal amount of education and/or job training makes us all safer. (Disclosure: I was interviewed for the book, as were several of my colleagues.)

5 stars!

"This was, simply put, a great book. It was superbly written and researched. Best of all, the author, Alan Elsner, has not merely pointed out the problems with our prisons, but has made thoughtful suggestions on how to improve the system. Whether you are Black, White, Democrat, or Republican, this is an issue that affects you. A must-read."