This book investigates the unintended and deadly consequences of criminal justice reforms through observing the effects of prison depopulation sentencing reform on county jails. This mixed-methods case study explores how California’s sentencing reform efforts in 2011 (Assembly Bill 109) and 2014 (Proposition 47) to depopulate California state prisons impacted California county jail inmate culture and experiences. Its results demonstrate how California county jails inmate culture became more like prison inmate culture, resulting in increased inmate deaths and a deadlier county jail experience. Of particular value in this exploration are the theoretical and real-world policy implications of legislation on correctional facility administration. From a theoretical perspective, this work improves our understanding of the interconnected criminal justice system. From a policy perspective, implications cover unintended collateral consequences and mechanisms to reduce them. This volume is ideal for policy makers and researchers of criminal justice reform.

本書は単なる刑事政策の分析に留まらず、正義を希求する「改革」が時として予期せぬ残酷な悲劇を招くという、社会の冷徹な構造を鮮やかに描き出した一冊です。刑務所の過密解消を目指した善意の法改正が、皮肉にも地方拘置所の文化をより暴力的で致死的なものへと変貌させていく過程は、システムが内包する不条理さを浮き彫りにし、読者の胸を強く締め付けます。 著者の鋭い眼差しは、司法制度を密接に絡み合う一つの生命体として捉え、一箇所の歪みが全体へと波及する「負の連鎖」を克明に記録しています。理論と現実の狭間で失われていく命の重みを問う本書は、政策の裏側に潜む「意図せざる結末」を暴く冷徹な告発書であり、真の改革とは何かを烈火の如く問い直させる衝撃的な名著です。