Carceral City

Discover the compelling insights of Carceral City by John Bardes, published by The University of North Carolina Press in 2024. This thought-provoking paperback spans 428 pages and challenges the common belief that slave societies had minimal reliance on prisons and police. Bardes meticulously analyzes tens of thousands of overlooked arrest and prison records to reveal a startling reality: in various regions of the South, both enslaved and free individuals faced incarceration at alarming rates. This groundbreaking work not only sheds light on the historical context of incarceration but also invites readers to reconsider the complexities of justice and control in America's past. Perfect for those interested in sociology and the intricate dynamics of societal power, Carceral City is a must-read for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the historical foundations of the American penal system.