Texas Tough: The Rise of America's Prison Empire is a 2010 book by Robert Perkinson, published by Metropolitan Books.
Perkinson, an American Studies professor at University of Hawaii at Manoa,[1] describes the criminal justice system in Texas and how it formed in the context of the post-United States Civil War environment.[2] Perkinson states that, unlike the prisons described in his book, the early prison systems studied by many criminologists are those in New England.[3] Perkinson describes the historical system as being punishment-only and primarily motivated to suppress black people when it was no longer possible to legally enslave them without their having committed a crime.[3] Therefore, Perkinson perceived this system as a continuation of slavery.[4] The book covers the terms of O.B. Ellis and George Beto as the heads of the Texas prison system, as well as the Ruiz v. Estelle lawsuit.[5] The author argues that in the post-Civil Rights Movement era in the 20th Century the rest of the country ultimately adopted the punitive Southern attitude towards incarceration.[6]
The book criticizes the expansion of incarceration and the pro-incarceration political movements.[5]
The book's title originates from an October 2000 report by the Justice Policy Institute.[7] Perkinson spent over 10 years researching the book; he consulted 30 archival collections, conducted ethnographic research, and used government records.[4] Perkinson also interviewed David Ruiz, the plaintiff of Ruiz v. Estelle; William Wayne Justice, a federal judge; other current prisoners; former prisoners;[5] prison guards; congressional officials;[4] other writers; reform activists; and attorneys.[5]
Reception
Sasha Abramsky of the Columbia Journalism Review argued that "Perkinson tells a generally compelling (if overlong and occasionally unfocused) story, which blends history, cultural commentary, folklore, and ethnography."[8] Abramsky recommends reading Texas Tough and Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison (2010) at the same time, because of the juxtaposition of the two different types of prison environments and prisoners described.[9]
Dr. Paul M. Lucko of Murray State University described the book as "a superb historical analysis".[5] Lucko argued that Perkinson's focus on Texas as the source of anti-blacks does not take into account historically higher sentences for blacks in the Northeast before and after the U.S. Civil War; he also stated that "Perkinson does not satisfactorily explain how the judicially discredited Texas control model inspired the nation's prison construction boom",[5] and that it may be unfair to single out Texas if the book argued that "the prison itself is more irredeemable than most of its inmates."[5]
David Pitt of Booklist deemed the work "[a] fascinating and often deeply troubling book."[11]
Mitchel P. Roth of the Southwestern Historical Quarterly described the book "wide-ranging, well-organized and well written" work "that should be among the standard works on Texas criminal justice history for years to come" and that "Anyone trying to gain an understanding of the Texan love affair with the prison system will find many of the answers in this provocative and thoroughly researched book."[4]
^Bergner, Daniel. "The Land of Lock and Key." The New York Times Book Review, March 28, 2010, p.16(L). Online: p. 1. Retrieved on July 9, 2014.
^Abramsky, Sasha. "American Justice." Columbia Journalism Review, May–June, 2010, Vol.49(1), p.55(3) [Peer Reviewed Journal]. Online: May 1, 2010. Online p. 1. (). Retrieved on July 9, 2014.
^ ab"Perkinson, Robert: TEXAS TOUGH" (). Kirkus Reviews, January 1, 2010. Retrieved on July 9, 2014.
^ abcdRoth, Mitchel P. "Texas Tough: The Rise of America's Prison Empire (review)" (). Southwestern Historical Quarterly, 2011, Vol.115(1), pp.106-107 [Peer Reviewed Journal] - Available at Project MUSE.
^ abcdefgLucko, Paul M. (Murray State University). "Tough on Texas." (Texas Tough: The Rise of America's Prison Empire)(Book review) Texas Books in Review, Fall, 2011, p.4(2).
^Bergner, Daniel. "The Land of Lock and Key." The New York Times Book Review, March 28, 2010, p.16(L). Online: p. 2. Retrieved on July 9, 2014.
^Abramsky, Sasha. "American Justice" (). Columbia Journalism Review, May–June, 2010, Vol.49(1), p.55(3) [Peer Reviewed Journal]. Online: May 1, 2010. Retrieved on July 9, 2014.
^Abramsky, Sasha. "American Justice." Columbia Journalism Review, May–June, 2010, Vol.49(1), p.55(3) [Peer Reviewed Journal]. Online: May 1, 2010. Online p. 2. (). Retrieved on July 9, 2014.
^Abramsky, Sasha. "American Justice." Columbia Journalism Review, May–June, 2010, Vol.49(1), p.55(3) [Peer Reviewed Journal]. Online: May 1, 2010. Online p. 3. (). Retrieved on July 9, 2014. "The juxtaposition between Texas Tough and Orange Is the New Black is fascinating, and makes them well worth reading together."
^Pitt, David. "Texas Tough: The Rise of America's Prison Empire" (review). Booklist, March 1, 2010, Vol.106(13), p.36(1)
External links
Texas Tough official website
(Archive)
Big Think Interview With Robert Perkinson - Big Think, April 23, 2012
March 08, 2023
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Texas Tough The Rise of America s Prison Empire is a 2010 book by Robert Perkinson published by Metropolitan Books Perkinson an American Studies professor at University of Hawaii at Manoa 1 describes the criminal justice system in Texas and how it formed in the context of the post United States Civil War environment 2 Perkinson states that unlike the prisons described in his book the early prison systems studied by many criminologists are those in New England 3 Perkinson describes the historical system as being punishment only and primarily motivated to suppress black people when it was no longer possible to legally enslave them without their having committed a crime 3 Therefore Perkinson perceived this system as a continuation of slavery 4 The book covers the terms of O B Ellis and George Beto as the heads of the Texas prison system as well as the Ruiz v Estelle lawsuit 5 The author argues that in the post Civil Rights Movement era in the 20th Century the rest of the country ultimately adopted the punitive Southern attitude towards incarceration 6 The book criticizes the expansion of incarceration and the pro incarceration political movements 5 Contents 1 Background 2 Reception 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBackground EditThe book s title originates from an October 2000 report by the Justice Policy Institute 7 Perkinson spent over 10 years researching the book he consulted 30 archival collections conducted ethnographic research and used government records 4 Perkinson also interviewed David Ruiz the plaintiff of Ruiz v Estelle William Wayne Justice a federal judge other current prisoners former prisoners 5 prison guards congressional officials 4 other writers reform activists and attorneys 5 Reception EditSasha Abramsky of the Columbia Journalism Review argued that Perkinson tells a generally compelling if overlong and occasionally unfocused story which blends history cultural commentary folklore and ethnography 8 Abramsky recommends reading Texas Tough and Orange Is the New Black My Year in a Women s Prison 2010 at the same time because of the juxtaposition of the two different types of prison environments and prisoners described 9 Dr Paul M Lucko of Murray State University described the book as a superb historical analysis 5 Lucko argued that Perkinson s focus on Texas as the source of anti blacks does not take into account historically higher sentences for blacks in the Northeast before and after the U S Civil War he also stated that Perkinson does not satisfactorily explain how the judicially discredited Texas control model inspired the nation s prison construction boom 5 and that it may be unfair to single out Texas if the book argued that the prison itself is more irredeemable than most of its inmates 5 R D McCrie of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice City University of New York described it as a brilliant and important publication that alas isn t easy reading at times 10 David Pitt of Booklist deemed the work a fascinating and often deeply troubling book 11 Mitchel P Roth of the Southwestern Historical Quarterly described the book wide ranging well organized and well written work that should be among the standard works on Texas criminal justice history for years to come and that Anyone trying to gain an understanding of the Texan love affair with the prison system will find many of the answers in this provocative and thoroughly researched book 4 See also EditOrange Is the New Black My Year in a Women s Prison 2010 Piper Kerman s memoir Texas Department of Criminal JusticeReferences Edit Bergner Daniel The Land of Lock and Key The New York Times Book Review March 28 2010 p 16 L Online p 1 Retrieved on July 9 2014 Abramsky Sasha American Justice Columbia Journalism Review May June 2010 Vol 49 1 p 55 3 Peer Reviewed Journal Online May 1 2010 Online p 1 Archive Retrieved on July 9 2014 a b Perkinson Robert TEXAS TOUGH Archive Kirkus Reviews January 1 2010 Retrieved on July 9 2014 a b c d Roth Mitchel P Texas Tough The Rise of America s Prison Empire review Archive Southwestern Historical Quarterly 2011 Vol 115 1 pp 106 107 Peer Reviewed Journal Available at Project MUSE a b c d e f g Lucko Paul M Murray State University Tough on Texas Texas Tough The Rise of America s Prison Empire Book review Texas Books in Review Fall 2011 p 4 2 Bergner Daniel The Land of Lock and Key The New York Times Book Review March 28 2010 p 16 L Online p 2 Retrieved on July 9 2014 Abramsky Sasha American Justice Archive Columbia Journalism Review May June 2010 Vol 49 1 p 55 3 Peer Reviewed Journal Online May 1 2010 Retrieved on July 9 2014 Abramsky Sasha American Justice Columbia Journalism Review May June 2010 Vol 49 1 p 55 3 Peer Reviewed Journal Online May 1 2010 Online p 2 Archive Retrieved on July 9 2014 Abramsky Sasha American Justice Columbia Journalism Review May June 2010 Vol 49 1 p 55 3 Peer Reviewed Journal Online May 1 2010 Online p 3 Archive Retrieved on July 9 2014 The juxtaposition between Texas Tough and Orange Is the New Black is fascinating and makes them well worth reading together McCrie R D John Jay College of Criminal Justice City University of New York Perkinson Robert Texas tough the rise of America s prison empire Brief article Book review CHOICE Current Reviews for Academic Libraries Nov 2011 Vol 49 3 p 605 2 Peer Reviewed Journal Pitt David Texas Tough The Rise of America s Prison Empire review Booklist March 1 2010 Vol 106 13 p 36 1 External links EditTexas Tough official website Sample chapter Archive Big Think Interview With Robert Perkinson Big Think April 23 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Texas Tough amp oldid 1111210509, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
