Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice

Soss (public affairs, Univ. of Minnesota) and Page (sociology and law, Univ. of Minnesota; The Toughest Beat) examine predatory practices in the United States criminal justice system. They argue that revenue-generating practices such as asset forfeiture, fees, fines, and bail are a key part of the criminal justice system that replace declining sources of funding. Since these practices are lucrative and increasingly necessary for government operations, there is a strong disincentive towards change, despite the disproportionate negative impacts to people of color, women, and poor people. Page and Soss situate these predatory practices within the history of the United States and clearly describe the tactics used, with an analysis that centers the impacts to communities based on race, gender, and class. The book also looks at profit motives within the criminal justice system, including for-profit prisons and public-private partnerships, and weighs incentives and consequences to the system, the community, and individuals. Additionally, Page includes an ethnographic case study of his former work as a bail bondsman, providing first-hand insight into bail predation and its effects. Finally, they summarize current reform efforts and include broad recommendations as well.