Criminal Justice in Divided America: Police, Punishment, and the Future of Our Democracy

Summary

How a broken criminal justice system has fueled the crisis of American democracy, and how we can address both problems together.

Criminal Justice in Divided America shows how police, courts, and prisons helped to break American democracy and how better approaches to public safety and criminal accountability can help to repair it. Engaging critically with concerns from both the left and the right, Sklansky lays out a clear and deeply researched agenda for reforming police departments, prosecutors' offices, criminal trials, and punishment. Sklansky seeks pragmatic solutions that take account of political realities: the lofty ideal of empowering "the people" or "the community" can mean little when members of the public or the community disagree. While efforts to "defund" the police have exacerbated political conflicts without addressing the underlying problem of how and when force should be used to protect public safety, reforms aimed at improving police accountability, restraining prosecutorial power, and expanding the role of juries can bring together warring parties who share a concern for justice.

Ultimately, Sklansky argues, reform must be rooted in a strong commitment to pluralism―bridging political divides rather than worsening them, strengthening democracy, and securing the broad support that enables durable change.