Book review: Beth E Richie, Arrested Justice: Black Women, Violence, and America’s Prison Nation
| Published date | 01 August 2013 |
| Date | 01 August 2013 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1362480613490017 |
| Subject Matter | Book reviews |
430 Theoretical Criminology 17(3)
seen at various stops along the way. Since he provides the actual addresses or intersec-
tions throughout the journey, it is a simple matter to virtually recreate this walk with
Google Earth Street View. Similar explorations can be made of the various neighbor-
hoods to which he refers throughout the book. Finally, although Sampson utilizes a vari-
ety of criminologically unusual datasets to support his arguments (such as those from the
Moving to Opportunity experiment, the national Panel Study of Income Dynamics, and
the Chicago Key Informant Network Study), much of the evidence is drawn from the
well-known Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods. An entire chap-
ter (4) devoted to the history of this undertaking provides a rare and captivating behind
the scenes look at how ‘big time research’ really works. It is absolutely fascinating in its
own right.
I know that some readers will not share my enthusiasm for the book. Most impor-
tantly, some will argue that Sampson has not yet convincingly addressed the selection
bias issue, especially in Chapter 12; in fact, an economist raised this concern during an
Author Meets Critics session during the 2012 ASC meetings. I disagree, but such disci-
plinary differences run deep. In addition, some readers will be dismayed that this is yet
another study of Chicago. Sampson quotes Malcolm Klein as stating that Chicago is ‘just
weird’ (p. 108), and many others have expressed similar sentiments. Sampson addresses
this issue at length in Chapters 4 and 5, and provides supporting evidence from other
cities whenever possible. But the fact remains that this still is Chicago-based research
and some will have a problem with that. I would simply encourage those people to check
out the book prices at the beginning of this review, especially in light of the number of
pages. Those are not misprints. Great American City definitely is one of the best bang-
for-the-buck values in recent years. It is worth the very small investment to own this
magnum opus regardless of the research site.
References
Kubrin CE and Weitzer R (2003) New directions in social disorganization research. Journal of
Research in Crime and Delinquency 40: 374–402.
Sampson RJ (2002) Transcending tradition: New directions in community research, Chicago style.
Criminology 40: 213–230.
Shaw CR and McKay HD (1942) Juvenile Delinquency in Urban Areas. Chicago, IL: University
of Chicago Press.
Zorbaugh H (1929) The Gold Coast and the Slum: A Sociological Study of Chicago’s Near North
Side. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Beth E Richie, Arrested Justice: Black Women, Violence, and America’s Prison Nation, NYU
Press: New York, 2012; 244 pp.: 9780814776230, US$22 (pbk)
Reviewed by: Patricia O’Brien, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
As I worked on this review of Beth E. Richie’s Arrested Justice: Black Women, Violence,
and America’s Prison Nation, there was a contentious challenge to the reauthorization of
the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)—the major source of grants to support shelters
and programs for battered women in the United States. The challenge centered
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