Description:
This book explores the injustices of bias, prejudice, and corruption in American jurisprudence concerning American Indians.
Review Quotes:
French (Univ. of New Hampshire) undertakes the task of tracing the application of social control of Native Americans by the dominant society. While the focus is billed to be "policing," and, indeed, the book culminates in what one may most accurately consider "policing," the author tracks the historical application of broader mechanisms of social control. In this sense, the book is less about law enforcement and more about "policing" in its broader context. French begins by defining that broader application of "policing," then describes Indigenous social control using four Native American tribes as examples. He then describes, again in broad terms, the methods of colonization and acculturation used by European and US governments. That discussion brings readers to relatively modern times, when the topic turns to law enforcement, the abuses of Native Americans at the hands of police officers, and the use of law enforcement to advance Manifest Destiny and other aspects of colonialism. Finally, French addresses recent years, describing the impact of NAFTA and 911 on Indian Country and the enforcement of laws. A succinct but important, well-written, and far-reaching book.
--F. E. Knowles, Valdosta State University
Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.
From CHOICE connect, A publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries