L'abolition de la prison

by Jacques Lesage de La Haye

Si l’on devait analyser la prison à l’aune de son efficacité, elle disparaîtrait immédiatement. Dans cet essai, l’auteur s’interroge sur son origine et ses finalités, sur les alternatives anciennes et récentes à l’incarcération, sur la médiation et la réparation. Il prône l’abolition de cette institution et démontre qu’elle est réalisable dès aujourd’hui.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Activism, Education, History

185 pages, Paperback

First published January 17, 2019

Reviews

[Camila Agostinho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super bon livre, hyper récent (sorti le premier trimestre de 2019) donc tous les chiffres sont à jour. De plus, ils nous présent les expériences concrétés qu'on était faites par d'autres pays dans le monde comme alternatives à l’incarcération et qui peuvent nous servir comme exemple pour l'abolition définitive du système punitif carcérale. Un seul bémol est qui l'auteur cite beaucoup d'autres auteurs (ce qui est bien aussi parce que ça nous donne de bibliographie en plus sur le sujet), mais je voulais voir plus de la vision de l'auteur même et ses analyses. Mais cela n'affecte pas la grandeur de la réflexion qu'il nous amène et qui est super importante aujourd'hui. Un sujet à réfléchir très vite.

[eirignis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ce livre est une bonne source de connaissances de base sur l’abolition de la prison parce qu’il cite toutes les références et les arguments déployés par les spécialistes du sujet. Néanmoins je trouve qu’il manque parfois de profondeur sur les maux sociétaux à l’origine des prisons : il cite vaguement le capitalisme mais sans approfondir suffisamment le sujet des classes sociales à mon sens. Un livre bien mais à compléter par d’autres lectures !

[alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book spent so much time name-dropping and quoting philosophers that it forgot to say anything new. At times it barely even remembers it’s supposed to be making a case for abolition, not prison reform. Literally just read “Are Prisons Obsolete?” by Angela Davis instead.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un livre passionnant et nécessaire qui ouvre la réflexion sur la suppression du système carcéral tel que nous le connaissons en pointant ses défauts, ses limites, ses problèmes. J'aurai aimé que l’auteur aille plus loin dans les modèles alternatifs proposés, mais je garde le reste de ma réflexion pour le book club 😏

[Ian Carrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthy successor to Davis's Are Prisons Obsolete?, this book provides a thorough and compelling argument to claim that prisons are worse than ineffectual; rather, they actively harm both the communities they "serve" and the individuals they incarcerate, and they fail to maintain justice in an orderly society. The translation by Scott Branson was clear and accurate, and the argument was able to be comprehensive while remaining concise. Honestly, I hope The Abolition of Prison replaces Obsolete? as the de facto abolitionist bible in the United States, as its citations are both more current and more compelling.

**Note: I received an advance digital copy of Branson's English translation of this book through Edelweiss.

[mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

si vous cherchez un livre sur l'abolition assez facile a comprendre mais ce qui vous donnerai un complètement nouveau perspectif, lire ça. c'est très bien écrit avec un objectif international, que j'ai trouvé vraiment précieux. il y a beaucoup des discussions sur l'abolition de la prison aux états unis, mais on manque quelquefois la vue globale qui est essentielle pour la vraie libération. mais ce livre manquait l'aspect constructif de l'abolition, hors de juste la prison et la police.

[Hannah Bergstrom de Leon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading more and more from AK Press and their many anarchist publications and this gem of a book, “The Abolition of Prison” by Jacques Lesage de La Haye is expectational. It is a brief yet poignant argument for the abolishment of the penal system in all its various manifestations.

As “Defund the Police” began to gain attention, particularly in Minneapolis after the murder of George Floyd, I found myself wanting to know and understand abolition in general and particularly in regards to the prison industrial complex. This book is one of many resources I have gained insight and knowledge from and serves as a sort of treatise. With chapter titles such as: Why Prisons?, Alternatives to Incarceration: The Forerunners, and How Do We Get Abolition?, the reader is given clear concise answers to core questions of the movement.

In reading this book it becomes obvious just how long the abolition of prisons has been a calling cry for many. Lesage de La Haye presents his arguments and evidence not only in his own words but through those of other abolitionists throughout history and many of his contemporaries. Most of the names were new to me, but Michel Foucault and Angela Davis are familiar and Lesage de La Haye has inspired me to dive more deeply into their writings.

“The Abolition of Prison” is a direct and concise treatise on the history, shortcomings, experiments and hopes for the future when it comes to the imprisonment of our fellow humans. It is a foundational text making accessible the abolitionist voice and argument for a better, more humane and just society. I highly recommend it as a place to start or refresh your commitment to abolition.

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[Sugarpunksattack Mick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jacques Lesage de La Haye's book 'The Abolition of Prison' couldn't have been published at a better time (thanks AKpress!) given the emerging popularity of abolitionism around police and prisons. 'The Abolition of Prison' offers an anarchist, and former prisoners reflection on what prison does to the individual, their personal scars and the scars that form on those around them, but also how prison logic permeates society. One of my personal favorite insights that La Haye's highlights is how prison abolition--the personal position and political position of a movement--has always been part of anarchist theory and practice. In particular, he references Peter Kropotkin's 'In Russian and French Prisons' from 1887. Highly recommend as an introduction text especially because it is short--even if i wish it was much, much longer.

[Dr_blobfish · Rating 4 out of 5]

sujet passionnant mais le livre n'est peut-être pas la meilleure introduction. le bouquin fonctionne parfois comme une bibliographie commentée : pour moi, qui était plus interessée par lire une synthèse des arguments et des idées anti carcérales, j'ai été déçue que le livre n'aille pas plus en profondeur sur certains sujet, et certaines parties qui visent à retracer l'histoire militante des luttes anti carcérales, ne m'ont pas tant intéressées que ça. en bref j'aurais préféré moins de citations de Bakounine qui disent un peu toute la même chose, et plus de détails sur certaines expérimentation anticarcérales récentes.
je conseillerai le livre à mes ami.e.s tant que je n'en trouverai pas un meilleur sur le sujet

[Chris Boughter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scattershot summary of abolitionist ideas, the book lacks depth in any one topic and opts instead to invite lay readers like myself to reconsider the status quo of the prison industrial complex in all facets.

A particularly exciting case study:

"The project began in 1971 with one thousand incarcerated people held in the Massachusetts juvenile prison. [1/3] were placed in halfway houses, [1/3] were placed in ordinary housing, and [1/3] in foster families."

The experiment generated a drop in recidivism from 45% to 10.5%. The question becomes, why isn't this being tried on a larger scale, all these years later?

[Andrew Eder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gooooooood stuff. Pretty self explanatory. It is definitely more philosophical than tangible actionable steps. Very intro level for prison abolitionists. It’s very short but VERY dense, so I liked that it wasn’t too long because there is a lot to process and think about while reading!

There are a lot of quotes and pieces brought in from other authors, and sometimes that felt overwhelming. It also discussed a bit the difference between prison reform and abolition. I think it did a good job or recognizing that reform is a bandaid, a short term solution while abolition is the goal. Loved it!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars for this short, translated treatise in prison abolition. It is chock full of excellent quotations from a variety of interesting sources, but it did slightly make me wish I had picked up one of those books. Nevertheless, this book was a good introduction to prison abolition, the roots of our relationship with imprisonment as punishment, and alternative approaches we should strive for, namely mediation and reparation. Definitely look this up if you want to know more about prison abolition.

[Mirko Bellini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pour comprendre toutes les problématiques autour du système carcéral et la nécessité de se débarrasser de ce dernier je recommande. Je recommande aussi de lire avant “la Prison est elle obsolète” de Angela Davis ou d’autres grandexs auteurices abolitionnistes qui permettent de connaître le contexte et l’histoire du système carcéral qui peut être intéressant d’avoir en tête avant de lire ce livre. Point positif: il n’est pas élitiste et n’est pas très compliqué à lire.

[Bethany Divakaran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with some of the critiques that the author spent too much time quoting/re-stating the work of others rather than introducing new ideas. I found this useful in some ways, as a review of the literature of sorts. And I can see where he did bring his own lived experiences and examples to the conversation...especially from a French/European perspective. The book was repetitive at times.

[Jim Queay · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative dive into the French prison system, which provides a refreshing alternative to the dominant narrative around American prisons. This provided not only a more nuanced view of these systems for a European audience, but also allowed a better understanding of the prison abolition movements applicable elements in my countries system.

[Paco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this for what it was: a short and sweet, 2021-updated, anarchist version of “Are Prisons Obsolete?” Some great points, and I really liked the personal stories he shared. Go see my tweet for specific abolitionist stuff I liked I’m lazy

[Jardelle Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a rating of the ideas in the book, which I 100% agree with, but it read like a (not particularly well-written) lit review / assortment of quotes without any original exploration by the author. Really interesting section on alternatives to incarceration though.

[poopybutt mcgee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The abolition of prison by Jacques Lesage de La Haye 9.5/10 I’ve been picking at this book for a while now but it’s a really good read with a lot of good points. Dense theory so obvi wasn’t very enjoyable to read but important nonetheless. Fuck prisons

[isma · Rating 4 out of 5]

plutôt un 3,5 — très solide mais très innovateur, ça ressemble pas mal à un catalogue de ressources qu’une vraie production mais ça m’a permis de choper plein de noms de bouquins donc merci + le chapitre sur les alternatives et des exemples est super intéressant

[mat bullock-betts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just read "Are Prisons Obsolete" by Angela Davis.

[Matt Ney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling, though somewhat repetitive. It is a brief, effective pamphlet regarding an incredibly important subject.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like it mostly functions as an overview of opinions and literature so far, which I still very much appreciated.

[Nels van Ravenhorst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een heleboel quotes uit andere boeken, papers & interviews waardoor je er nou niet echt lekker in kwam maar verder goed boek met een goede boodschap en goede argumenten

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only the lack of imagination perpetrates incarceration as the solution to crimes and misdemeanors

[cla · Rating 3 out of 5]

en vrai bonne intro mais ça ressemble trop à une anthologie alors que c’est assumé à aucun moment donc ça me soule mais à titre de bibliographie indicative sur le sujet pourquoi pas

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.