51 pages • 1 hour read
264
Book • Nonfiction
United States • 2000s
2007
Adult
18+ years
In Marked: Race, Crime, and Finding Work in an Era of Mass Incarceration, Devah Pager explores the profound economic and social impacts of incarceration on young Black men seeking employment in Milwaukee. Using experimental audits, Pager demonstrates how race and criminal records adversely affect job prospects, highlighting systemic discrimination. The book delves into the mechanisms behind these outcomes, employer behaviors, and proposes policy alternatives to support rehabilitation and reduce recidivism. Topics of mass incarceration, racial discrimination, and criminal backgrounds are discussed.
Informative
Challenging
Unnerving
Mysterious
155 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Devah Pager's Marked has been widely praised for its thorough research and impactful analysis of how criminal records affect employment opportunities for African Americans and whites. Reviewers commend the book's methodological rigor and important social insights. However, some noted it occasionally becomes overly academic, which might limit its accessibility to a general audience. Overall, a significant and insightful contribution to discussions on race and the criminal justice system.
Readers interested in social justice, criminal justice reform, and employment discrimination will find Marked by Devah Pager compelling. Comparable to Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow, it appeals to those who appreciate rigorous sociological analysis and its real-world implications. Ideal for students, academics, and policy makers.
155 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
264
Book • Nonfiction
United States • 2000s
2007
Adult
18+ years
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