Although many aspects of law enforcement in its function of social control have been well documented, much less analyzed are the mechanisms, beliefs, and ideologies that govern police policies, enforcement, discourse, and, by extension, the minority experience, particularly of black and brown people. Seeking active engagement, reform, and social justice in the age of Black Lives Matter, Weissinger and Mack masterfully document one of the countrys most consequential historical issuessocial and criminal injustice by the criminal justice system, particularly in police institutions. Contributing authors vividly assess and masterfully delineate the historical, social, legal, philosophical, and ideological forces shaping and reshaping the black and Latino/a experience with police and the mainstream US. In the current highly charged political climate, the book is a timely education in policing minority communities and race/ethnic relations and vital for sociology, history, ethnic/minority studies, and criminal justice collections. Definitely a must read for anyone interested in better understanding the black and brown experience with police in the US and for those vested in positive transformation as Americans strive for better lives, a better future.
Summing Up: Highly recommended. All public and academic levels/libraries. * CHOICE * A provocative look at our failed criminal justice system, this timely books probing chapters delineate well its racialized and chronically problematical policing operations. Sensitive to the humanity of those involved, police officers and those they often oppress, these savvy scholars provide insightful historical, institutional, and reform-oriented analyses for all concerned with creating a fairer and more just America. -- Joe Feagin, Texas A&M University
