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University of Virginia Press
The following review appeared in the July 2018 issue of CHOICE. The review is for your internal use only. Please review our Permission and Reprints Guidelines or email permissions@ala-choice.org.
Social & Behavioral Sciences
History, Geography & Area Studies - North America
Historian Kamerling (Seattle Univ.) examines post–Civil War corrections in Illinois and South Carolina to highlight the differences between Northern and Southern states during the Reconstruction era. He points out that chain gangs and convict leasing occupy the imaginations of many Americans who reflect on historical Reconstruction-era correctional practices. In a first of its kind comparative analysis, Kamerling takes an in-depth look at two specific states in each region to examine whether Northern and Southern states truly punished individuals differently after the Civil War ended. However, he does not solely examine racial differences in punishment practices. Rather, the book examines deeper and less-explored class, regional, ideological, and political differences between South Carolina and Illinois correctional practices. Extremely informative and well written, the book will be a valued addition to any library, especially those supporting history, sociology, or criminology and criminal justice programs. It could serve as a resource for research or as assigned reading for graduate seminars concerning historical correctional practices in the US. Full bibliography, notes, and index help guide individuals interested in exploring specific topics covered in the book.
--D. R. Kavish, Lander University