Smart Decarceration: A Selected Bibliography

Smart Decarceration is a forward-thinking, practical volume that provides innovative concepts and concrete strategies for ushering in an era of decarceration -- a proactive and effective undoing of the era of mass incarceration. The text grapples with tough questions and takes up the challenge of transforming America's approach to criminal justice in the 21st century. This timely work consists of chapters written from multiple perspectives and disciplines including advocates, researchers, academics, practitioners, and persons with incarceration histories who are now leaders in the movement. Matthew Epperson, the editor of Smart Decarceration, will discuss this work with one of its contributors, Ronald Simposon-Bey, on Thursday 1/25, 6pm at the Co-op.

Just Mercy, by Bryan Stevenson

Caught, by Marie Gottschalk

A Country Called Prison, by John Carl and Mary Looman

About Matthew Epperson: Matthew W. Epperson is an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Smart Decarceration Initiative. His research centers on developing, implementing, and evaluating interventions to reduce disparities in the criminal justice system. His primary area of focus is understanding and addressing person- and place-level risk factors for criminal justice involvement among persons with mental illnesses. Professor Epperson’s interests also include developing conceptual, evidence-based approaches to effective and sustainable decarceration. His scholarship and teaching aim to build and advance the capacity of the social work profession to address these challenges and opportunities for criminal justice transformation. He is Co-Leader of the Promote Smart Decarceration network, through the Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative. He has over 15 years of clinical and administrative social work experience in behavioral health and criminal justice settings.