For the People: A Story of Justice and Power

Since 2017, Larry Krasner, a former defense attorney, has been the elected district attorney of Philadelphia. This is a remarkable occurrence. Philadelphia’s previous policing policies have been some of the most egregious uses of excessive force in the country, including the 1985 bombing of city blocks against the MOVE movement in that city. The former district attorney was convicted of a felony and no one seemed to want to take on this prosecutorial nightmare. The police union openly laughed at Krasner’s candidacy because he was known for working diligently for civil rights and policing reforms.

In this book, Krasner writes about the state of policing in America and the need for common sense reforms such as his no bail policy and his desire to decriminalize minor offenses that crowd the courts and disproportionately affect people of color. Since Philadelphia has one of the highest rates of incarceration in the country, his reforms were milestone events for the city. In this book, Krasner’s reflections over his long career are wide ranging and always refreshing and interesting.