by Jessica Wood
First published 2017
Michael Wood spent eleven years as a Baltimore police officer, narcotics detective, and sergeant before he understood the true nature of American law enforcement. He watched racism shape every arrest decision. He learned that countless criminal statutes gave him power to restrict any citizen's freedom whenever his arrest numbers fell short. He saw how punishment failed to deter crime or build stronger communities. Now Wood advocates for Civilian-Led Policing, a system where citizen boards control police goals and priorities. Those most affected by enforcement get the strongest voice in setting policy. Wood draws from Cesare Beccaria's Enlightenment writings while rejecting classical ideas about human rationality and free will. He argues that laws should enable cooperation rather than deliver punishment. Wood asks readers to view our social contract with suspicion rather than reverence, changing what hinders cooperation instead of defending systems because they seem right or true.
Genres: american-fiction, political-science, crime, non-fiction, law, activism
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: social-commentary, systemic-critique
Setting: Baltimore
Period: 21st-century
280 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Content warnings: racism