In Their Names: The Untold Story of Victims’ Rights, Mass Incarceration, and the Future of Public Safety

Lenore Anderson has built her career on reforming criminal justice, both in her previous position as chief of policy in the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and in her current role as co-founder and president of Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ). In her debut book, "In Their Names: The Untold Story of Victims’ Rights, Mass Incarceration, and the Future of Public Safety," Anderson examines how the United States’ focus on victims’ rights often perpetuates mass incarceration. She argues that bureaucrats justify increased incarceration under the guise of public safety, rather than creating solutions to better serve crime victims.

On March 29, the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center (DEPC) hosted a discussion with Lenore Anderson, Shakyra Diaz, and Aswad Thomas of the Alliance for Safety and Justice and moderated by DEPC Executive Director Douglas Berman. Panelists discussed how state leaders and advocates can create effective public safety solutions that replace over-incarceration.