The political roots of racial tracking in American criminal justice /

When a societal problem becomes a societal crisis, government is expected to respond to that crisis. When the crisis has persisted for generations with no action taken, it is more than reasonable, if not critical, to ask "why?" This is the premise behind Moore's exceptional look at the problem/crisis that she has termed "racial tracking," which she states is not only about "the fact that blacks are disproportionately entangled in the criminal process, but are also subject to a less lenient form of criminal processing," particularly when compared with whites. Though this ground may seem well-trod by criminologists, e.g., Michele Alexander's The New Jim Crow (CH, Nov'10, 48-1766) and Coramae Richey Mann's Unequal Justice (CH, Sep'93, 31-0620), it is the political science approach that Moore (Colgate Univ.) takes, which relies upon a variety of policy models, that makes this work unique. Additionally, her extensive use of government statistics to support her assertions contributes to the gravitas and credibility of the work. Moore's exploration concentrates on federal-level institutions and public opinion. Her findings speak to the extent of racial divisions in the US and the dire consequences for black citizens. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate, research, and professional collections. --Susan Elaine Blankenship, Lake Erie College