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Beyond Prisons: A New Interfaith Paradigm for Our Failed Prison System
This strong indictment of the current prison system, undertaken by two respected experts on behalf of the American Friends Service Committee, traces the history and features of our penal system, offers strong ethical and moral assessments of it, and lays out a new paradigm of criminal justice.
- GenresSocial JusticeNonfiction
216 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 17, 2012
http://www.spiritrestoration.org/book...
What can be learned about the criminal justice system that will lead to positive and radical change? This question is both thoughtfully considered and thoroughly addressed by Laura Magnani and Harmon L. Wray in Beyond Prisons. The authors begin with a history of early judicial process. An objective portrayal of Quaker influence on the development of the criminal justice system in the United States provides a vivid backdrop for the current state of the prison system in America.
From the first penitentiary in the 18th century to the prevalence of mass incarceration in the “Super-Max” facilities of today American society has evinced a drift toward symptom-solutions instead of problem-solutions. This collective mental shift has given rise to a fear-based judicial ideology. The punitive measures delineated in America’s criminal justice system have devolved into revenge-oriented sentencing and incarceration.
The “New Interfaith Paradigm” portion of the title to this work is not mere lip-service to an altruistic ideal. The plan for immediate change involves aspects of clarity, concern, and compassion that cross religious, philosophical, spiritual, and geo-political boundaries. From a template for restoration from the Qur’an that considers forgiveness a virtue to the non-violent resolution of conflict put forth by Zen Buddhism all avenues of reform are explored.
Magnani and Wray can at times be painstakingly pragmatic in providing a plethora of statistical data to support their position. On the other hand, the authors present a case for judicial reform that resonates with as much passion as practicality. The information presented has been culled from years of experience and education. The validity of the intellectual argument for radical reformation permeates every page of this scholarly work. For reformation to be truly radical some aspect of abolishing the current system must be thoughtfully considered. The authors present the AFSC (American Friends Service Committee) solution to the prison problem in a twelve-step plan that begins with Penal Abolition and ends with a Campaign for Reparations.
I would recommend this book to any adult interested in expanding the horizons of responsible citizenship and contributing to positive change. Beyond that I would also invite adolescents coming of age in American society to read this text to gain an understanding of what change they would like to see in “our failed prison system.”
Review contributed by: Dr. Jefferson B. Holbrook.
He is a free-lance writer and the leader of an Artists’ Group in his local community in North Carolina. An avid reader of many genres including spiritual, contemporary, and classic literature, he also works as a Fraud Investigator for a Fortune 500 company.
What can be learned about the criminal justice system that will lead to positive and radical change? This question is both thoughtfully considered and thoroughly addressed by Laura Magnani and Harmon L. Wray in Beyond Prisons. The authors begin with a history of early judicial process. An objective portrayal of Quaker influence on the development of the criminal justice system in the United States provides a vivid backdrop for the current state of the prison system in America.
From the first penitentiary in the 18th century to the prevalence of mass incarceration in the “Super-Max” facilities of today American society has evinced a drift toward symptom-solutions instead of problem-solutions. This collective mental shift has given rise to a fear-based judicial ideology. The punitive measures delineated in America’s criminal justice system have devolved into revenge-oriented sentencing and incarceration.
The “New Interfaith Paradigm” portion of the title to this work is not mere lip-service to an altruistic ideal. The plan for immediate change involves aspects of clarity, concern, and compassion that cross religious, philosophical, spiritual, and geo-political boundaries. From a template for restoration from the Qur’an that considers forgiveness a virtue to the non-violent resolution of conflict put forth by Zen Buddhism all avenues of reform are explored.
Magnani and Wray can at times be painstakingly pragmatic in providing a plethora of statistical data to support their position. On the other hand, the authors present a case for judicial reform that resonates with as much passion as practicality. The information presented has been culled from years of experience and education. The validity of the intellectual argument for radical reformation permeates every page of this scholarly work. For reformation to be truly radical some aspect of abolishing the current system must be thoughtfully considered. The authors present the AFSC (American Friends Service Committee) solution to the prison problem in a twelve-step plan that begins with Penal Abolition and ends with a Campaign for Reparations.
I would recommend this book to any adult interested in expanding the horizons of responsible citizenship and contributing to positive change. Beyond that I would also invite adolescents coming of age in American society to read this text to gain an understanding of what change they would like to see in “our failed prison system.”
Review contributed by: Dr. Jefferson B. Holbrook.
He is a free-lance writer and the leader of an Artists’ Group in his local community in North Carolina. An avid reader of many genres including spiritual, contemporary, and classic literature, he also works as a Fraud Investigator for a Fortune 500 company.
June 30, 2013
This book was recommended to me via email by a member of the community I live in after my family was the victim of a violent crime (including kidnapping my son). Six months later, the case against the four accused men is still early in the hearings/circus stages.
This book is a radical call on the legal system for restorative healing rather than common prison-scape we have come to call normal. A lot of ugliness is exposed herein, and a lot of truth is plain.
The problem is viewed as deeply religious, but it's not taken to it's most basic elements and causes and solutions. Some of the calls for reform are reasonable and good, though some seem just progressive garble. I would like to follow-up with the author, one of whom may be local to me.
While some points are worth considering, a clear vision was not put forth about what we should do with the the bulk of felons. The volume of crime that America faces cannot be dealt with the the hug-it-out approach that the book seems to espouse.
I read this in one day.
This book is a radical call on the legal system for restorative healing rather than common prison-scape we have come to call normal. A lot of ugliness is exposed herein, and a lot of truth is plain.
The problem is viewed as deeply religious, but it's not taken to it's most basic elements and causes and solutions. Some of the calls for reform are reasonable and good, though some seem just progressive garble. I would like to follow-up with the author, one of whom may be local to me.
While some points are worth considering, a clear vision was not put forth about what we should do with the the bulk of felons. The volume of crime that America faces cannot be dealt with the the hug-it-out approach that the book seems to espouse.
I read this in one day.
May 17, 2008
Our culture has lost its way. Our poor citizens are treated as inventory and there is money to be made. True rehabilitation is lacking. This book is about getting us back to humanity, if we were ever there.
July 6, 2008
This is a moral critique of the criminal justice system in America and a theory on solution based on The Society of Friends (Quakers). The Quakers founded the first penitentiary in America in the 1700's. Hard to read but not a waste of time.
April 4, 2017
This book really opened my eyes.
It's the whole community that needs rehabilitation and healing- the victims are better served this way than when the prosecutors are focused on keeping the raw memories raw to win a conviction
It's the whole community that needs rehabilitation and healing- the victims are better served this way than when the prosecutors are focused on keeping the raw memories raw to win a conviction
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews