Customer Reviews

An Expensive Way to Make Bad People Worse: An Essay on Prison Reform from an Insider's Perspective (Flashpoint)

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This slim volume is packed full of information that most Americans are unaware of concerning criminal justice issues. The author focuses on what has happened in the last 30 years in America. Most shocking is the fact that we are spending 7 times more on prisons than in Jimmy Carter's presidency, yet the crime rate has remained virtually flat. Also, we are spending many times more than other industrialized nations, yet our crime rate is about the same as theirs. Obviously, we are not getting what we are paying for. Prisons have now become a big business that states lobby to have in their area, so there will be economic interests to fight true reforms and cut-backs. This book would be appropriate for almost anyone interested in knowing more about prisons. Short and concise, filled with charts and graphs, it would be useful in church classes on social issues, adult education classes, high school and college classes that deal with prison issues, and as a resource on anyone's bookshelf. Pastors, lawyers, and state legislators should have copies! I learned a lot that I didn't know when I read it, and decided to feature it in my bookstore.

Jens Soering's insights into the prison system in this country are based on his ongoing personal experience and in-depth research into a prison system that is reeling from ever expanding costs. A system that is failing miserably in terms of any social benefit to a society that is for the most part unaware of the staggering and growing costs to support a system that is anything but just and certainly and unquestionably an economic failure. Jens explores several myths about the inaptly named "criminal justice" system in this country. It is an easy read for anyone who would like to understand why there seems to be a revolving door in our prisons and spiraling population growths. It is an essential read for anyone engaged in prison ministry or criminal law. I am purchasing copies for all of our key prison ministers.

I am very interested in prison reform, since what we are doing is barely treading water, and definitely *not* making the situation (crime, rehabilitation, costs) any better at all.

The author, a convicted felon himself, is very clear-headed in his writing style, and he presents the facts of the case against the current state of the prisons in this country as dispassionately as possible.

I very much valued his honesty, his clarity of writing, and the many facts, figures and comprehensive backup that he provided.

All in a very easy to read book!
Please don't miss this one -- it is well worth the cost!
I am planning to purchase another copy, for our local public library.

This book was such an eye opener! I really believe that every tax paying american should read this book. It's unbelievable how much the US government spends on corrections, and yet they don't correct a thing, all they do is make criminals worse! I suggest you buy the paper copy, cause your definitly gonna want to take notes and highlight.

This author should simply be asked to run the problem that is unknown to most Americans. Crime is crashing and inmates are exploding. In this context Jens Soering is a top intellectual leader with real world smarts and an IQ that likely is to the moon--and my job is sensing intellects in minutes.

HERE IS REALITY IN AMERICA:

YES, WE HAVE LESS CRIME, BUT AN EXPLOSION OF MORE INMATES!

This means the USA is becoming ANTI-LIBERTY. And we are the leading jailers in the world, and when a FBI top detective warns sharply that many police and other arrest hunters need to be feared as in the top book ARREST PROOF, you know the USA is not the land of the free.

And God help you if police notice you have a carry permit for a gun to protect yourself. Some will actually make some type of arrest just for that reason! Thankfully, others are calm and know you support a safe county, state and country.

Unfortunately, in terms of quality citizens carrying firearms, some police who are afriad of guns--other than thiers, seem to even fear theologians, missionaries, pastors and model citizens who carry. Perhaps they worry you are going to add to the 16,000 murdered in uniform as heros. I think some forget who is often present at a crime when they are not around.

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Jens has material that is in the top 1% in this area. He is a phenom and an exceptionally clear writer with content that is fantastic. Required reading form ANY PERSON OF ANY FAITH INVOLVED IN JUSTICE AND PRISONS. If you are not a Christian, ignore those limited parts.

This man is nothing short than a gift to the planet.

He is also a gift to the USA. Since America is the leading PRISON NATION, with 25% of prisoners, we are a total joke in terms of freedom. Please, I am not saying this to be mean, I say it because I am watching arrest and jail mills, in which those without good lawyers are simply destroyed.

We crush all nations including Russia, Iran, N. Korea, China, etc in the % and numbers we have in jails.

The get "tough on crime" approach in the past which I stupidly believed, made sense because I had low contact with real courts unless I was an expert. This "jail em all" approach shows many people with a fetal level of knowledge who have no idea what is going on in the USA--they are like me ten years ago.

We have police and sheriffs moving from peace officers to paramilitary arrest mill workers. Many weekly abuse their power. Yes, some police are utter wonders and really great and balanced people. But I have sensed a great shift in 40 years from the police as my protector, to the police as the enemy of freedom, as more and more paper laws and other laws exist.

Dearest Jens, as with others I talk to who are in prison, and who call my home daily to talk of life, faith, justice, prison reform and family, I would prefer an hour with you more than perhaps anyone on the earth.

You are a great and immensely wise prophet. I fear for those who ignore prisoners, because as CHRIST JESUS said, "Since you never came to visit me [in prison], I never knew you--depart from me you wicked ones."

While no one can do all Jesus asks, rejection of inmates is simply anti-CHRIST. Obviously, he does not mean those who might try to kill you during a visit--these exist, bit are NOT the norm.

We are already seeing the end of justice in the USA, as noted by our UTTER LACK OF SOLUTIONS other than the stupid, inept answer to all problems of "jails, jails, jails," which should make some pause who despise the convicted.

In the real world, the arrest reports are cooked as often as a Julia Child's cookbook, some sheriffs and police routinely violate ethics and act criminally, Internal Affairs is utterly a joke, the AG's are looking for wins not justice, and some judges are clueless about what an hour in jail is like and can be frankly impaired or sadistic.

I support firm sentences on those who are clearly guilty and certainly repeat violent offenders. Meaning, people obviously criminal to someone with an IQ of 90--below average. If you need a lawyer to know the law, that is messed up in any aspect of criminal law. It means the crime is not obvious.

I DO NOT SUPPORT PAPER CRIMES UNLESS the criminal STEALS THE PENSIONS OF MANY, AND DO NOT SUPPORT NON-VIOLENT DRUG CRIMES WITH LONG SENTENCES.

I do not support the secret war against people who carry firearms to protect themselves. The notion the police or a sheriff is going to save you during a crime--one that might last two seconds to four minutes is fascinating denial.

Having one item on a restaurant menu is usually a junk place to eat. Well that is the USA's answer to everything wrong--prison, prison, prison, and it makes me see why we are a country on the decline, because the smart people with ideas are on the edges of power.

Jens, I love you brother and keep writing. You are as good as any top international reporter--only better.

Jens Soering is the involuntary Thomas Merton of our times. This book is a short very well written view of the inside of our prisons. Jens is a tragic example of the very poor judgement exercised by people under 25 no matter how smart they are. He is serving 2 life terms without parole. You have to read Centering Prayer, Centering Practice to learn the gory details leading to his convictions. There has to be a better way of dealing with people who commit crimes because they are too young, too doped up or too mentally challenged to fully understand what they are doing. Mr. Soering suggests a few in this book. Read it.

It was interesting to hear about prisons from the inside. The book was well organized and contained a significant data to support the author's evaluations of the American prison system. I have not had time to check his sources or check for opposing data, but he cited his sources and has given me a place to start. From my vantage point as an attorney who worked in the criminal system 30 years ago, his assertion that prisons are now used to warehouse the mentally ill, the drug addicted and the immature, rather than treat them or rehabilitate as we hoped to do in the 70's, seems tragically accurate.

This is an excellent little book, easy to read and should be required reading for anybody working with youth or in the criminal justice system. Although it is American, it rings true for Australia and other western countries who are increasingly getting tough on crime. It is interesting that the people who actually visit prisoners while they are incarcerated are usually of the opinion that the prison culture makes people worse, not better. Punishment and rejection never made a human being more loving.
Jens Soering writes passionately about what he knows only too well.

Great insight! Very opinion based however, although enlightening. I would recommend this book to further someone's knowledge but not recommend it to be a guideline for which their ideas and beliefs should be based.

This book was really well writen and I found it very interesting.