First published 2004
Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro exposes what she sees as a broken criminal justice system that favors criminals over victims. Pirro argues that the system coddles offenders while abandoning those they harm. She draws from her prosecutorial experience to illustrate her points, sharing cases including a teenage girl who endured horrific abuse after her father killed her stepmother and a working man gunned down in a dispute over parking. Pirro contends that parents, communities, and legal institutions all bear responsibility for creating unsafe conditions. She writes with the directness of someone who built her career in a profession dominated by men. The book includes practical safety guidance through updated appendixes designed to help readers and their families make informed decisions about personal security. Pirro aims to inspire anyone who has suffered as a victim or watched a loved one endure harm.
Genres: politics, crime, social-issues, non-fiction
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, personal-crusade
Setting: Westchester County
304 pages · Paperback · Touchstone
Content warnings: abuse, violence