Sentencing bookworm

Larry Solum at Legal Theory Blog finds time every Saturday to recommend a new or old legal theory book through his Legal Theory Bookworn posts (recent examples are here and here).  Though I doubt I will be as regular as Larry, I like the idea of spotlighting new or old sentencing books wich merit attention (since, as detailed here and here and here, there are not enough new sentencing articles to keep us all busy).

I was inspired to do a sentencing bookworm post after seeing this review of an interesting just published book entitled Downsizing Prisons: How to Reduce Crime and End Mass Incarceration by Michael Jacobson.  Here is a brief blurb about the book:

Downsizing Prisons examines specific ways that states have begun to transform their prison systems.  Jacobson offers practical policy solutions and strategies, including changing how parole and probation agencies operate, significantly reducing punitive sentencing and “technical” parole violations, and supporting drug-treatment programs for low-level drug offenders.  These policy changes can actually increase public safety as well as save money.

This blurb comes from this website which spotlights a recent forum hosted by the Open Society Institute to discuss ideas in Downsizing Prisons.  An interesting summary of that discussion is available at this link.