Paul Rock, The Official History of Criminal Justice in England and Wales. Volume 1: The ‘Liberal Hour’
| Author | Phillipa Thomas |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/14624745211045344 |
| Published date | 01 April 2023 |
| Date | 01 April 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Book Reviews |
activists very eloquently. These individuals, via their shared experiences with neglect and
strain, tell their stories of how they recovered from such trauma and later organized to
both bring light to discriminatory social policies and empower their communities. By
including these descriptions, Boyles offers a change in the narrative of the Black commu-
nity in Ferguson, as protesters did not begin their work to destroy their neighborhoods
(for example, by looting) but actually began their work to rebuild and revitalize
(protect and serve) their neighborhoods in the absence of equitable law enforcement.
A unique aspect of the book, which should be considered a strength, is the author’s
framing of the work akin to a screenplay where readers can “fade in”or “lap dissolve”to
exact moments of direct action around the city. Such visualization aids give extra life to
the work. Providing a cinematic vibe brings the reader closer to the events and closer to
the realities that Boyles witnesses and participates in. Some images discussed in the book
are difficult: picturing “front-liners”bearing the brunt of tear gas and rubber bullets to
protect other protesters, and envisioning residents’trauma as they stand by blood on the
pavement at the outer crime scene. However, these images are necessary to understand
the full impact of the critical event and its resultant direct action and the need to create stron-
ger neighborhood social bonds. Another strength of the book is a discussion of Black fem-
inism and its relation to informal social ties in Ferguson. The author describes
“othermothers,”a group whose actions have meaningful and historical roots. These
women conduct outreach and wellbeing checks, engage in shared parenting responsibilities
with relatives and others in the community, and give advice to younger activists. This look at
intersectionality shows that Black women’s role in fostering order is complex and also pro-
vides a much-needed form of social and political activism to benefit their communities.
Boyles’s book is engaging and will inspire other activists and scholars alike. It is a true
contribution to the race and social justice literature in sociology and criminology due to
its multifaceted ethnographic techniques and its deep examinations of what it is like to be
on the ground when trying to reorder one’s social environment. Her positionality and
immersion in the movement offer a necessary exploration of Black collective action.
This work proves that Black Lives Matter.
ORCID iD
Miltonette Olivia Craig https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2352-4574
Miltonette Olivia Craig
Sam Houston State University
Paul Rock, The Official History of Criminal Justice in England and Wales.
Volume 1: The ‘Liberal Hour’, Routledge: Abingdon, Oxon, 2019; 616 pp.
ISBN 9780367730321, £36.99 (pbk), £120.00 (hbk)
Paul Rock’sThe ‘Liberal Hour’examines a period of progressive legislative changes,
passed under the Labour Government between 1957 and 1967. The book forms part of
Book Reviews 567
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