The New Jim Crow
The New Jim Crow
Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Revised Edition
M I C H E L L E A L E X A N D E R
© 20 I 0, 201 2 by Michelle Alexander All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, without written permission from the publisher.
Request for permission to reproduce selections from this book should be mailed to: Permissions Department, The New Press. 38 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013.
Published in the United States by The New Press, New York, 2012 Distributed by Perseus Distribution
ISBN 978-1 - ) 9558-643·8 (pbk.)
The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows: Alexander, Michelle.
The new Jim Crow: mass incarceration in the age of colorblind ncss I Michelle Alexander.
p. cm.
Includes bi biographical references, and index. ISBN 978-1-59558- 1 03-7 (he. : alk. paper)
l. Criminal justice, Administration of---United States.
2. African American prisoners-- - United States. 3. Race discrimination- United States. 4. United States·-Race relations. I. Title.
I IV9950J\437 2010
364.973--dc22 2009022 519
The New Press was established in 1990 as a not-for-profit alternative to the large, commercial publishing houses currently dominating the book publishing industry.
The New Press operates in the public interest rather than for private gain, and is committed to publishing, in innovative ways. works of educational, cultural, and community value that are often deemed insufficiently profitable.
www.thenewpress.com
Composition hy N K Graphics
This book< was set in Fairjielil Ul Light
Printed in the United States of America
2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3
The Lockdown
" We may think we know how the criminal justice system works. Television is overloaded with fictional dramas about police, crime, and prosecutors shows such as Law & Order. These fictional dramas, like the evening news, tend to focus on individual stories of crime, victimization, and punishment, and the stories are
Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Revised Edition
M I C H E L L E A L E X A N D E R
© 20 I 0, 201 2 by Michelle Alexander All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, without written permission from the publisher.
Request for permission to reproduce selections from this book should be mailed to: Permissions Department, The New Press. 38 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013.
Published in the United States by The New Press, New York, 2012 Distributed by Perseus Distribution
ISBN 978-1 - ) 9558-643·8 (pbk.)
The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows: Alexander, Michelle.
The new Jim Crow: mass incarceration in the age of colorblind ncss I Michelle Alexander.
p. cm.
Includes bi biographical references, and index. ISBN 978-1-59558- 1 03-7 (he. : alk. paper)
l. Criminal justice, Administration of---United States.
2. African American prisoners-- - United States. 3. Race discrimination- United States. 4. United States·-Race relations. I. Title.
I IV9950J\437 2010
364.973--dc22 2009022 519
The New Press was established in 1990 as a not-for-profit alternative to the large, commercial publishing houses currently dominating the book publishing industry.
The New Press operates in the public interest rather than for private gain, and is committed to publishing, in innovative ways. works of educational, cultural, and community value that are often deemed insufficiently profitable.
www.thenewpress.com
Composition hy N K Graphics
This book< was set in Fairjielil Ul Light
Printed in the United States of America
2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3
The Lockdown
" We may think we know how the criminal justice system works. Television is overloaded with fictional dramas about police, crime, and prosecutors shows such as Law & Order. These fictional dramas, like the evening news, tend to focus on individual stories of crime, victimization, and punishment, and the stories are