Ghost in the Criminal Justice Machine: Reform, White Supremacy, and an Abolitionist Future

by Emile DeWeaver

A groundbreaking investigation into the insidious ways that white supremacy compromises mainstream criminal justice “reform” movements, from the award-winning, formerly incarcerated activist and Soros Justice FellowDespite reform efforts that have grown in size and intensity over the last two decades, the machine of American mass incarceration continues to flourish. After spending more than twenty years in prison, formerly incarcerated activist, essayist, and organizer Emile DeWeaver believes the root of the problem is white supremacy. During his time in prison, DeWeaver covertly organized to pass legislation impacting juveniles in California’s criminal legal system; was a culture writer for Easy Street Magazine; and co-founded Prison Renaissance, an organization centering incarcerated voices and creating new models of incarcerated leadership. His sentence was ultimately commuted by California’s governor due to his community work.

In Notes from an Abolitionist, DeWeaver draws on these experiences and more from his own life story to critique the central premise of parole boards and prisoner rehabilitation programs as fundamentally re-entrenching white supremacist ideas. He argues that these programs demand self-abnegation of individuals while ignoring the role of structural oppression.

With lucid, urgent prose, DeWeaver intervenes in contemporary debates on the criminal legal system with his eye-opening discussion on the tools we need to end white supremacy. For readers of Susan Burton and Derecka Purnell, Notes from an Abolitionist adds a sharp and unique perspective to the growing discourse on abolition and white supremacy.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[Geo · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this book! i thought it provided a good mix of personal stories, practical frameworks for analyzing systems of power, and theoretical analysis without being too lofty or academic at any point. i always find it important and worthwhile to read works by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, especially regarding the criminal “justice” system. i really really enjoyed his world building in the section where he imagined a world without prisons. it felt very real and even feasible in a way.

[Marleigh Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This year, I hosted the author, Emile, for a conference and have since wanted to read his book. This helps build a framework and offers language to deeply understand prison abolition even for folks that aren’t yet familiar or comfortable with this idea. It is the perfect intersection of theory, systems-change examples, and lived experiences, making it an incredibly enjoyable read.

[D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would not recommend this book.

Mr. DeWeaver lost me with his vision of what restorative justice could look like. I don't know whether it was intentional or not but he doesn't discuss (1) why everyone should buy in, (2) the necessity for everyone to buy in, and (3) what are the exceptions if any and how they should be handled. Even in his own example, he makes an assumption that the victim of the crime would be satisfied with a year of recovery and a $30,000 award. That is a huge leap. Also, what about in the cases of murder? I was actually expecting him to use this crime as an example since this is what he went to prison for and it's probably the most extreme crime one perform against another member of society.

His concepts are interesting and he makes a compelling argument for a broken system but I don't think DeWeaver does a good job of explaining how to remediate the system in a way that most would buy into whether they are a white supremacist or not.

[Pritheva Zakaria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting memoir/book about prison and the prison abolition movement. I am curious to learn more about how a society that doesn’t prioritize institutional prisons can exist and actually create and mold a safe and healthy environment, one that doesn’t depend on policing and prisons.