Book Review: The Horror of Police by Travis Linnemann
| Published date | 01 May 2024 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/13624806231211646 |
| Author | Meg D Lonergan |
| Date | 01 May 2024 |
physical places and intertwined networks. Places can expand and contract according to
the individual. Intersecting Lives points out the tremendous diversity of views and sup-
ports across these communities. But while many residents value diversity of neighbor-
hoods like South Boston, people who are previously incarcerated do not benefit from
said diversity. Additionally, there were also limits to how much diversity people in
this community will tolerate.
Black residents and residents of color in this book discuss the trials and tribulations of
returning to old neighborhoods. They do not have to break a law or do anything illegal to
violate the probation department and become reincarcerated. Simply their presence
outside of their home, or any police contact whatsoever, could result in arrest and rein-
carceration. Additionally, the familiarity with the neighborhood can open up a slew of
criminal possibilities. Leverentz aptly points out how individuals in the Dorchester neigh-
borhood develop a set of interpersonal approaches to deal with larger structural forms of
inequality and oppression, like long-time neighbors and friends handling issues infor-
mally instead of involving the criminal justice system.
Intersecting Lives provides a fascinating look into people returning to small towns.
Traveling in these spaces was difficult and individuals depended on others to get
around, which could set up more complex and dangerous situations for people with no
access to licenses. The author demonstrates that creating and maintaining ties with
people was substantially more difficult in small towns. Lack of transportation made it
hard to work and stay out of prison, especially for individuals with a DUI (driving
under the influence) or other driving restrictions. Small things like a lack of transport
are huge for this population, and it is an easy fix, yet one not addressed by the criminal
justice system.
The author demonstrates that neighborhoods do in fact matter. And she demonstrates
how, when, and why they do in a very accessible fashion. Additionally, different people
use the same neighborhood in different ways. How people use the neighborhood changes,
and the neighborhood itself is never static and always complex. Leverentz demonstrates
that these neighborhoods can be positive communities for change when people can access
resources, housing, and transportation. But they are required to use informal means
because they are not receiving the support from institutions or institutional actors.
Travis Linnemann, The Horror of Police, University of Minnesota Press: Minneapolis, MN, 2022; 279
pp.: 9781517905927, CA$34.99/US$24.95 (pbk)
Reviewed by: Meg D Lonergan, Doctoral Candidate and Contract Instructor, Carleton University,
Canada
Travis Linnemann’s book The Horror of Police (2022) is a salient and timely theoretical
contribution to both critical and cultural strands of criminology. Written during the
COVID-19 pandemic and in the context of Black Lives Matter protests against police vio-
lence and the killing of Black, Indigenous, and other racialized people, Linnemann takes
a comprehensive yet grounded analytic approach to demonstrate how—rather than an
260 Theoretical Criminology 28(2)
Get this document and AI-powered insights with a free trial of vLex and Vincent AI
Get Started for FreeStart Your 3-day Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your 3-day Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your 3-day Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your 3-day Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your 3-day Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting