Arrested Citizenship: The Democratic Consequences of American Crime Control

Arrested Citizenship examines how the expansion of the American criminal justice system has transformed democratic participation and civic engagement. Through extensive research and data analysis, Vesla Weaver demonstrates the far-reaching effects of criminal justice contact on political behavior and attitudes toward government institutions. The book traces the development of crime control policies from the 1960s onward, documenting their impact on communities and individuals. Weaver presents findings from interviews with citizens who have experienced various levels of criminal justice system involvement, from police stops to incarceration. Drawing on multiple methodologies, the author analyzes how encounters with law enforcement and the criminal justice system shape people's understanding of their rights and relationship to the state. The work gives particular attention to racial disparities and the concentrated effects of heightened surveillance and enforcement in specific neighborhoods. The research contributes to broader discussions about democracy, citizenship, and the role of institutions in perpetuating or challenging social inequalities. Through its investigation of criminal justice policies' effects on civic life, the book raises fundamental questions about power, participation, and the meaning of citizenship in contemporary America.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Vesla Weaver's overall work: Readers appreciate Weaver's detailed research methods and her ability to connect historical patterns to current racial inequalities in the justice system. Academic reviewers note her data-driven approach and thorough documentation in "Arresting Citizenship." Readers specifically value: - Clear presentation of complex data about policing impacts - Integration of personal narratives with statistical analysis - Direct examination of racial bias in criminal justice policies Common critiques: - Academic writing style can be dense for general readers - Some sections rely heavily on specialized terminology - Limited discussion of potential solutions On Google Scholar, "Arresting Citizenship" has over 1,000 citations. The book received 4.5/5 stars on Amazon (based on 23 reviews) and 4.3/5 on Goodreads (31 ratings). One academic reviewer on Amazon noted: "The combination of quantitative and qualitative evidence makes a compelling case about how criminal justice contact affects political participation."

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander This examination of mass incarceration demonstrates how the criminal justice system functions as a system of racial control in the United States.

Punishing the Poor by Loïc Wacquant The text reveals the connections between welfare reform, criminal justice policies, and the regulation of poverty in contemporary America.

Policing the Poor by Joe Soss, Richard C. Fording, and Sanford F. Schram This research explores how criminal justice policies intersect with welfare programs to create systems of social control targeting low-income communities.

Locked Out by Jeff Manza and Christopher Uggen This study documents how felon disenfranchisement laws restrict political participation and alter democratic outcomes in the United States.

From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime by Elizabeth Hinton The book traces the development of crime control policies from the 1960s through the 1980s and their impact on African American communities.

🔹 Author Vesla Weaver coined the term "custodial citizenship" to describe how frequent contact with the criminal justice system creates a distinct form of political membership and civic engagement among affected communities. 🔹 The research for this book included analysis of over 500 interviews conducted in high-surveillance communities across six cities in the United States. 🔹 The book reveals that by 2012, one-third of Black men in America had a felony conviction, representing a dramatic increase from just 3% in 1980. 🔹 Weaver's work demonstrates that negative encounters with law enforcement often lead to decreased voter turnout and reduced trust in government institutions, creating a cycle of political disengagement. 🔹 The author is a Bloomberg Distinguished Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University, holding appointments in both political science and sociology - making her uniquely qualified to examine this intersection of criminal justice and democracy.