{"product_id":"the-meaning-of-life-9781620974094","title":"The Meaning of Life","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"I can think of no authors more qualified to research the complex impact of life sentences than Marc Mauer and Ashley Nellis. They have the expertise to track down the information that all citizens need to know and the skills to translate that research into accessible and powerful prose.\"\u003cbr\u003e —Heather Ann Thompson, author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning \u003cem\u003eBlood in the Water\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom the author of the classic \u003cem\u003eRace to Incarcerate\u003c\/em\u003e, a forceful and necessary argument for eliminating life sentences, including profiles of six people directly impacted by life sentences by formerly incarcerated author Kerry Myers\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003eMost Western democracies have few or no people serving life sentences, yet here in the United States more than 200,000 people are sentenced to such prison terms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\n\u003cp\u003eMarc Mauer and Ashley Nellis of The Sentencing Project argue that there is no practical or moral justification for a sentence longer than twenty years. Harsher sentences have been shown to have little effect on crime rates, since people \"age out\" of crime—meaning that we're spending a fortune on geriatric care for older prisoners who pose little threat to public safety. Extreme punishment for serious crime also has an inflationary effect on sentences across the spectrum, helping to account for severe mandatory minimums and other harsh punishments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\n\u003cp\u003eA thoughtful and stirring call to action, \u003cem\u003eThe Meaning of Life\u003c\/em\u003e also features moving  profiles of a half dozen people affected by life sentences, written by former \"lifer\" and award-winning writer Kerry Myers. The book will tie in to a campaign spearheaded by The Sentencing Project and offers a much-needed road map to a more humane criminal justice system.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Marc Mauer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48283983675643,"sku":"9781620974094","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/3917\/9771\/files\/CoreSourceHub_caa4553a-9c07-4563-855b-7db44357da36.jpg?v=1771389974","url":"https:\/\/indiepubs.com\/products\/the-meaning-of-life-9781620974094","provider":"IndiePubs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}