As much as I would like to like this book, it has nothing new to offer: the basic premise is what every one knows already: that U.S. puts more people in jail than any other country in the modern world, that minorities in America (African American, Latinos, Native Americans) and poor-class whites are picked up / arrested and incarcerated more frequently, and jailed more than anyone else and that there is no real rehabilitation available for the released ones, and that politicians on both sides have been unable to come up with any substantive solution. Neither does this book.

When the media talks about a rise in crime, prison overcrowding, and repeat offenders, most people automatically think of murderers, rapists, and other violent offenders. In fact, violent crime has been in a sharp decline for years. Rarely does mainstream media clarify that these crimes are relatively minor in the scheme of things, that they are largely social crimes like drug use, and the prisons have a revolving door because we've designed prisons - and society - to function that way.

With 'Beyond These Walls', Tony Platt takes us deep into the criminal justice system, showing us the complexities and many facets of a system gone horribly wrong. Platt doesn't just talk about what's broken, he shows us exactly how it got that way. This is a vital aspect because before we can begin to correct the mistakes, we first have to identify them.

The content encompasses a broad range of information, yet it's not weighed down with statistics and textbook-style lingo. The writing style is more conversational than scholarly.

This book should be required reading in every social science and criminal justice program. Ideally, I'd like everyone to read it. Until we start making loud enough demands for change, the system is only destined to get worse.

There is a tremendous breadth of coverage in this book, which is both a benefit and a detriment - Platt does a good job of showing how the various facets of the carcerial state interact and feed one another, but he sometimes misses important details of systems that are clearly outside his direct realm of expertise. And despite the breadth, this isn't a good introduction for someone not already familiar with the basics of the relevant social justice and reform movements. What this book is excellent for, though, is tying together a wide variety of details and offering a concise, coherent history of the various systems of control that reinforce inequality in America. Terrific background reading for activists, Beyond These Walls offers some good suggestions, too, for how various groups can work together to advance all our interests.

While everyone seems to have strong opinions about our criminal justice system - and what is wrong with it- very few people are actually educated in how complex a problem it actually is. Platt lays out a fantastic narrative showcasing not only the current state of our penal system, but equally importantly HOW it got to be that way.
I hope this book will find its way into schools, and not just forensic programs. Everyone in a society is at risk of falling victim, they should all understand what is really broken.
Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject.

What to do when the rich get away with murder and the lower class are left seeking scraps?
Well welcome to our broken criminal justice system that's riddled with corruption, nepotism, and pay to play schemes.
The higher ups with power and prestige get off with a slap on the wrists while the lower class, minorities, mixed races are left paying the price for misdemeanors.

THANK YOU For finally writing a book that encompasses the social issues that causes crime. Further, I LOVED the integration of ALL Minorities, not just Blacks and Latins.
As a former probation officer I was able to identify and relate to most of what the author was talking about. I can appreciate the lengths of the "state" to subjugate and keep down lower classes of people.
I have been waiting for a book like this since my days as an undergraduate in Criminal Justice.
This book should be required reading for all people going into the social sciences.