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The End of Policing  By  cover art

The End of Policing

By: Alex S. Vitale
Narrated by: Michael Butler Murray
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Publisher's summary

Recent years have seen an explosion of protest against police brutality and repression. Among activists, journalists, and politicians, the conversation about how to respond and improve policing has focused on accountability, diversity, training, and community relations. Unfortunately, these reforms will not produce results, either alone or in combination. The core of the problem must be addressed: the nature of modern policing itself.

This audiobook attempts to spark public discussion by revealing the tainted origins of modern policing as a tool of social control. It shows how the expansion of police authority is inconsistent with community empowerment, social justice - even public safety. Drawing on groundbreaking research from across the world, and covering virtually every area in the increasingly broad range of police work, Alex Vitale demonstrates how law enforcement has come to exacerbate the very problems it is supposed to solve.

In contrast, there are places where the robust implementation of policing alternatives - such as legalization, restorative justice, and harm reduction - has led to a decrease in crime, spending, and injustice. The best solution to bad policing may be an end to policing.

©2017 Alex S. Vitale (P)2019 Tantor

What listeners say about The End of Policing

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Eye opening

This book is a must read! I had been entirely oblivious to how the justice system is stacked against us, but this breaks it down in a simple and matter of fact way.

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The truth about police

This book will drive you crazy on how many good things we could have by Just not spending that much money on police

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FACTS

This book needs to be read by everyone. 10/10 would recommend. This book explains in detail how far our country has moved away from freedom for all into a fascist police state. It points out a lot of problems that often get overlooked. The book also expresses how if we were to do things differently, we can still win after being dealt an unjust hand of cards. Please read if you’re interested in expanding your world view.

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Highly Recommend

I highly recommend this book to those who think that “defund the police” or “abolish the police” is too extreme.

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Eye opening

Authoritative and revealing account how the US has applied and misapplied police to deal with social problems, historically and currently. It is interesting to see how police training often does not enhance the ability of police to affect positive outcomes. The book describes how corrupt politicians and police have cooperated to control and persecute out groups illegally. The author also gives ideas to better address social issues by utilizing police less often. Highly recommend

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Audio chapter alignment

Great book, highly recommended if you'd like a deeper perspective into the problems of Policing. Only complaint, audio chapters are not aligned with the readable book chapters. They're one chapter behind in the audio version.

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Balanced and well detailed

If you don't see any problems with the current system of law enforcement, but you consider yourself an open minded person, I would recommend this book for you. Challenge your current mindset.

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In depth and well reasoned.

This book has become even more relevant in 2020 as protesters around the world collide with violent, racist police. The issues addressed have never been more salient and critical to our path forward.

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A must read for anyone curious about defunding the police

Alex Vitale does an amazing job in this book tackling a complicated and controversial issue with both clarity and sophistication. This book is surprisingly free of academic jargon and is a very quick read despite its 8 hour length. If you have any questions at all about the recent calls to abolish or defund the police this book will answer them and so much more. 10/10 would read again

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Argument backed by data

Great book and provides claims backed up my multiple studies over many years. Rarely does he make a claim he doesn’t follow up with solid data.

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