---
product_id: 15009812
title: "The Toughest Beat: Politics, Punishment, and the Prison Officers Union in California (Studies in Crime and Public Policy)"
brand: "oxford university press usa"
price: "€ 75.02"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
category: "Book"
url: https://www.desertcart.com.cy/products/15009812-the-toughest-beat-politics-punishment-and-the-prison-officers-union
store_origin: CY
region: Cyprus
---

# The Toughest Beat: Politics, Punishment, and the Prison Officers Union in California (Studies in Crime and Public Policy)

**Brand:** oxford university press usa
**Price:** € 75.02
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

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- **What is this?** The Toughest Beat: Politics, Punishment, and the Prison Officers Union in California (Studies in Crime and Public Policy) by oxford university press usa
- **How much does it cost?** € 75.02 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    "The Toughest Beat": Primer on Prison Politics
  

*by M***D on Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2011*

"The Toughest Beat" by Josh Page is a primer on California politics over the last three decades.  While not providing answers for all of the state's economic woes, it is a blueprint for manipulation of voters' opinions and base fears and politicians' reactions in one particular case, criminal justice and prison populations. Financial support for the state's devastatingly-costly prison system at the expense of other core needs; i.e. public education and welfare, is basic to its economic troubles and will continue to contribute to its downward spiral if not adequately addressed.  Although the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on May 23, 2011 that California's overcrowded prisons constitute "cruel and unusual" conditions for the human beings encased in those cells and ordered the release of thousands of prisoners within two years, savvy observers are aware that reform of any kind will remain an uphill battle.Josh Page tells us why and how this state of affairs came to be in his book about the rise of California's powerful prison guards' union (the CCPOA) and of its pivotal role in rallying punitive forces in the Golden State as the U.S. initiated and fought its War on Drugs that focuses primarily on poor people of color.  The book helps the reader understand how creating beneficial alliances, seizing windows of opportunity, and astute political maneuvering can make a special interest group a powerful player in the political arena.  However, it also offers hope for those concerned about mass incarceration in California and elsewhere in the country. If one understands the genesis of punitive-oriented ideology and practices, one can better begin to devise more successful, humane alternatives.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    A behind the scenes look at the creation of a political machine
  

*by B***H on Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2011*

While the subject matter is the California Correctional Peace Officers' Union, this book is really about how one union was able to create and wield the tools of influence and build one of the most feared political machines in California.  The Toughest Beat gave me a unique behind the scenes look at how a special interest took the tactics of strategists such as Saul Alinsky and brought them to life in modern day politics.  Much has been made of how much money the prison guards' union contributes to politicians, but this is the first in-depth look at where the union's real power is rooted.  Just one example is the author's insight into the union's creation and near absolute control of the Crime Victims United and the Doris Tate Crime Victims.  He details how the union adeptly uses these organizations to influence criminal sentencing to create the need for new prison beds while not looking self serving to the general public.If nothing else, I found this to be one of the most comprehensive historical looks at the third largest penal systems in the world.  This book is the one-stop-shop if you are looking for the history of the California Department of Corrections.  The author did an amazing job of detailing the history of prisons and the prison guard union but he did so in a readable style.  If this book were a documentary it would be a Ken Burns mini-series.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Perfect
  

*by A***. on Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2018*

Perfect

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*Product available on Desertcart Cyprus*
*Store origin: CY*
*Last updated: 2026-03-20*