"The author recounts his experiences as an expert witness for defense teams working to dispel myths about gangs. He marshals findings from psychology to show how these myths bias court actors and lead to the dehumanization of those on trial, causing courts to overcharge and unjustly punish defendants"--
John Hagedorn (Great Cities Institute, University of Illinois-Chicago) has served as an expert witness in 73 gang-related court cases. In this career memoir for students, scholars, and others, he provides an insiders account of the trials of gang-affiliated criminals and murderers. Through real-life stories of trials, plus interviews with gang members and prisoners, Hagedorn demonstrates how stereotypes, implicit bias, and demonization often take precedence over facts in the courtroom. In addition, he explains why stereotyping and demonization matter, even when those accused are indeed guilty, pointing to the role of racism in the rationale for mass incarceration. The book contains b&w photos, maps, and illustrations. The author has written other books on gangs, organized crime, and criminal justice reform. Annotation ©2022 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
What actually goes on in a courtroom when the defendant is a gang member
John Hagedorn, who has long been an expert witness in gang-related court cases, claims that what transpires in the trials of gang members is a far cry from what we would consider justice. In Gangs on Trial, he recounts his decades of experience to show how stereotypes are used against gang members on trial and why that is harmful. Hagedorn uses real-life stories to explain how implicit bias often replaces evidence and how the demonization of gang members undermines fairness. Moreover, a “them and us” mentality leads to snap judgments that ignore the complexity of gang life in America.
Gangs on Trial dispels myths about gangs and recommends tactics for lawyers, mitigation specialists, and expert witnesses as well as offering insights for jurors. Hagedorn describes how minds are subconsciously “primed” when a defendant is identified as a gang member, and discusses the “backfire effect,” which occurs when jurors hear arguments that run counter to their beliefs. He also reveals how attributional errors, prejudice, and racism impact sentences of nonwhite defendants.
Hagedorn argues that dehumanization is the psychological foundation of mass incarceration. Gangs on Trial advocates for practical sentencing reforms and humanizing justice.
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