The United States now imprisons a higher percentage of its population than any other country in the world. Author, U.S. District Judge Harold Baer, Jr. explains this crisis of mass incarcera tion, how it came about, and the pressing need and means to reduce prison populations and recidivism; promote rehabilitation and re-entry into society; andprotect public safety.

Judge Baer presided over the experimental re-entry court of the federal district court for the Southern District of New York. He brought to that court and brings to this book insight from his extraordinary experience in taking responsibility at every stage of the criminal law process, from federal prosecutor to defense attorney to judge presiding at trial and sentencing. Judge Baer recounts the moving lessons learned from his re-entry court experience. He argues that public safety and our sense of humanity require that we drastically improve prisoner sentencing and re-entry into society to reduce the high rate of recidivism.