First published 2019
Prosecutors hold more power than judges in America's courtrooms, deciding who walks free and who faces prison. Emily Bazelon examines this unchecked authority through two compelling cases. Kevin, twenty years old in Brooklyn, faces serious violent felony charges after picking up his friend's gun when police arrive. Noura, a teenager in Memphis, stands indicted for her mother's murder. Bazelon follows both cases from arrest through sentencing, showing how prosecutorial decisions shape outcomes at every step. She reveals how criminal prosecutions fail and why they could work better. The book also profiles reform-minded district attorneys winning elections across major cities and rural areas nationwide. These prosecutors aim to completely reimagine their role in the justice system. Bazelon demonstrates how prosecutorial discretion can offer second chances to defendants like Kevin and Noura. Her reporting combines detailed case narratives with legal analysis to expose the missing piece in America's mass incarceration crisis. The book shows how prosecutor power drives injustice and maps a path toward meaningful reform.
Genres: politics, crime, non-fiction, justice, current-affairs, law, academic, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: social-commentary, true-story
Setting: Brooklyn, Memphis
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
448 pages · Hardcover · Random House