Forgotten Law Enforcement

Reviews / Votes

Martin-Howard takes on an important but surprisingly neglected question: what is it actually like to work inside one of the most scrutinized jails in America? Through interviews with officers and captains at Rikers Island, she documents the occupational realities of a workforce that is disproportionately Black, Caribbean, and female - and that rarely gets to speak for itself in research. The result is a grounded, intersectional account that should be required reading for anyone working on corrections policy or carceral reform. -- David Pitts, Vice President, Justice and Safety Division, Urban Institute, USA Forgotten Law Enforcement offers a compelling and timely examination of correctional work at Rikers Island. Centering the perspectives of Black and Caribbean correctional officers and supervisors, the book sheds new light on the racial, gendered, and organizational dynamics that shape everyday life inside one of the nation's most complex jail systems. -- Deborah Koetzle, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, USA Much has been written about Rikers Island, the criminal justice system, and correctional officers, but I cannot think of one that illuminates the misunderstood characteristics and culture inside of New York City's largest jail, like Forgotten Law Enforcement: Behind the Gates with Correctional Staff at Rikers Island. As a former chair of the Committee on Public Safety in the New York City Council, raised by a correction officer/captain, I am aware of the risks ranging from physical danger to psychological strain faced by correctional officers and staff. This book is a must-read, which offers broad insight of the complex world of the forgotten arm of law enforcement. The environment, experiences, and challenges of these professionals deserve thoughtful examination. Forgotten Law Enforcement: Behind the Gates with Correctional Staff at Rikers Island provides that necessary examination. -- Adrienne Adams, Speaker Emerita, New York City Council For both staff and people incarcerated, life inside correctional facilities is shaped by continuous exposure to trauma. In Forgotten Law Enforcement, Simone Martin-Howard gives voice to the often unseen experiences of correctional staff while underscoring the central role of rehabilitation and wellness in creating true safety.
This powerful work reminds us that when we invest in the wellbeing of everyone behind the gates, we create safer and healthier experiences for people, families, and communities. This embodies Holistic Safety, an approach centering dignity, wellbeing, and shared humanity for everyone within correctional systems. -- Nneka Jones Tapia, Managing Director of Justice Initiatives, Chicago Beyond Forgotten Law Enforcement is an important contribution that challenges us to see correctional officers as law enforcement professionals, as human beings, and as individuals shaped by the conditions of confinement they help manage. Its focus on Black and Caribbean officers offers critical, underexamined intersectional insight, particularly in a setting like Rikers Island. As a New Yorker with Caribbean roots, Dr. Simone Martin-Howard brings valuable perspective to this work. As a former correctional officer and scholar, I see this book as giving voice to those too often forgotten while deepening our understanding of corrections. -- TaLisa J. Carter, American University, USA Forgotten Law Enforcement is a powerful study that centers the lived experiences of correctional staff; a voice often ignored. Through rigorous qualitative research and rich institutional analysis, Martin-Howard offers essential insights into race, gender, and organizational culture at Rikers Island. By situating this work within a jail system facing the threat of federal receivership and documenting an environment where staff often feel unsupported and experience tensions within and across identity groups. The book illuminates the profound challenges of shaping correctional practice. It is indispensable for scholars, practitioners, and students of criminal justice and public administration. -- Jill Gordon, Cleveland State University, USA