Thinking about Crime
Sense and Sensibility in American Penal Culture
Michael Tonry
Reviews and Awards
Thinking about Crime is a lively analysis of American exceptionalism in penal policy, depicting and explaining the United States crime control industry's position as the unquestioned behemoth among Western nations."--Times Literary Supplement
"Thinking About Crime is a provocative and important book that should be required reading for policymakers and students of criminal justice. Tonry presents a convincing and carefully crafted analysis of contemporary crime control policies, which he contends are overly severe, wasteful, and unfair. Using historical and cross-national data, he demonstrates that the harshly punitive policies adopted by the United States--but rejected by policymakers in other Western countries--have been shaped by American sensibilities toward crime, criminals, and punishment. Tonry's prescriptions for reform are reasonable; following them will produce a more humane and effective criminal justice system."--The Law and Politics Book Review
"Along with his eminence, knowledge and powers of clear analysis, Tonry also has an approachable stylewhich makes this book one for the intelligent layperson as well as the academic. Some of those reading this book will wonder at the disjuncture presented here between the evidence with which Tonry lucidly supports his case for a more liberal penality and the contemporary American conventional wisdom that harsh punishment is the answer to crime. But as well as making this case, Thinking about Crime is also an investigation into why the US has become so punitive, despite the compelling rational arguments against this."--Crime, Media, Culture