Josh Page
@joshpage.bsky.social
Sociology prof. at Univ. of Minnesota. Law, Criminal Punishment, Politics, and Labor. New book: Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice.
Pinned
Josh Page
@joshpage.bsky.social
· Jul 8
It's hard to believe, but today is the day -- the release date for Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice, a book that @joshpage.bsky.social and I have been working on for most of the past decade. If you’d like to check it out, you can get 30% off by entering the code UCPNEW.
Legal Plunder
A searing, historically rich account of how US policing and punishment have been retrofitted over the last four decades to extract public and private revenues from America’s poorest and most vulnerabl...
press.uchicago.edu
Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice, my book w/ @joesoss.bsky.social, is now available. 30% off through @uchicagopress.bsky.social (see below). Look out for info about book-related events beginning in late-August.
The spoils of mass deportation! #LegalPlunder
NEW: ICE has torn up its $180M cap on a proposed immigrant-tracking program and is now guaranteeing private surveillance firms at least $7.5M each, with potential payouts reaching $281M per vendor. The change signals a shift from “pilot” to full-scale outsourcing of street-level investigative work.
ICE Offers Up to $280 Million to Immigrant-Tracking ‘Bounty Hunter’ Firms
Immigration and Customs Enforcement lifted a $180 million cap on a proposed immigrant-tracking program while guaranteeing multimillion-dollar payouts for private surveillance firms.
www.wired.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The spoils of mass deportation! #LegalPlunder
Reposted by Josh Page
Join FFJC Co-ED Joanna Weiss for a conversation with the authors of Legal Plunder, @joesoss.bsky.social & @joshpage.bsky.social, exploring how our fines & fees system took shape and what it will take to dismantle it.
🗓️ 12/3, 12 PM ET
📍 Online or at New York Law School
🎟️ tinyurl.com/3bnpprvb
🗓️ 12/3, 12 PM ET
📍 Online or at New York Law School
🎟️ tinyurl.com/3bnpprvb
November 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Join FFJC Co-ED Joanna Weiss for a conversation with the authors of Legal Plunder, @joesoss.bsky.social & @joshpage.bsky.social, exploring how our fines & fees system took shape and what it will take to dismantle it.
🗓️ 12/3, 12 PM ET
📍 Online or at New York Law School
🎟️ tinyurl.com/3bnpprvb
🗓️ 12/3, 12 PM ET
📍 Online or at New York Law School
🎟️ tinyurl.com/3bnpprvb
Reposted by Josh Page
The Times identified 120+ instances in which guards were described as having punched, kicked or stomped on inmates, smashed their fingers in cell doors, held their legs apart and struck their genitals with batons, and even waterboarded them — all while they were handcuffed or otherwise restrained.
Restrained, Beaten, Asphyxiated: New York Prison Guards’ Brutality Grows
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:56 PM
The Times identified 120+ instances in which guards were described as having punched, kicked or stomped on inmates, smashed their fingers in cell doors, held their legs apart and struck their genitals with batons, and even waterboarded them — all while they were handcuffed or otherwise restrained.
Reposted by Josh Page
This week Inquest covered the growing real estate trend of prison flipping, and the inner workings of extractive capitalism's merger with mass incarceration. Get the full recap: mailchi.mp/inquest.o...
November 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This week Inquest covered the growing real estate trend of prison flipping, and the inner workings of extractive capitalism's merger with mass incarceration. Get the full recap: mailchi.mp/inquest.o...
Reposted by Josh Page
The House has passed H.R. 5214, a bill to return DC to cash bail.
Cash bail creates two tiers of justice, one for people with money and one without. DC abolished it more than 30 years ago and crime has dropped precipitously since.
H.R. 5214 is wrong and we will continue to fight its passage.
Cash bail creates two tiers of justice, one for people with money and one without. DC abolished it more than 30 years ago and crime has dropped precipitously since.
H.R. 5214 is wrong and we will continue to fight its passage.
November 20, 2025 at 1:52 AM
The House has passed H.R. 5214, a bill to return DC to cash bail.
Cash bail creates two tiers of justice, one for people with money and one without. DC abolished it more than 30 years ago and crime has dropped precipitously since.
H.R. 5214 is wrong and we will continue to fight its passage.
Cash bail creates two tiers of justice, one for people with money and one without. DC abolished it more than 30 years ago and crime has dropped precipitously since.
H.R. 5214 is wrong and we will continue to fight its passage.
Reposted by Josh Page
The United States is experiencing historic drops in crime across almost all categories. But crime statistics don’t necessarily change how safe Americans feel — those beliefs are driven by political preferences.
Want to Know if Someone Is Worried About Crime? First Ask How They Voted.
The sitting president can be a better predictor of how safe someone feels than what the crime data shows.
www.themarshallproject.org
November 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The United States is experiencing historic drops in crime across almost all categories. But crime statistics don’t necessarily change how safe Americans feel — those beliefs are driven by political preferences.
Very much looking forward to this event in NYC with @finesandfeesjc.bsky.social. Please join us in person or online for a spirited discussion about Legal Plunder. cc/ @joesoss.bsky.social
People nationwide are being pushed into debt over fines & fees they can’t afford. Join us for a talk with Legal Plunder authors, @joshpage.bsky.social & @joesoss.bsky.social, on how this system emerged — and why reform can’t wait.
🗓️ 12/3 | 12 PM ET
📍Online or at NY Law School
🔗 tinyurl.com/3bnpprvb
🗓️ 12/3 | 12 PM ET
📍Online or at NY Law School
🔗 tinyurl.com/3bnpprvb
November 18, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Very much looking forward to this event in NYC with @finesandfeesjc.bsky.social. Please join us in person or online for a spirited discussion about Legal Plunder. cc/ @joesoss.bsky.social
Thanks @inquest.bsky.social for featuring an excerpt from Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice.
"Since the mid-1980s, government and business interests have retrofitted criminal legal institutions so that they function as generators of revenue." @joshpage.bsky.social & @joesoss.bsky.social on what happens when you merge extractive capitalism + the carceral state
Indentured Citizens - Joshua Page & Joe Soss - Inquest
Making incarceration profitable—for both the state and corporations—generates untold hardship not only for incarcerated people but also for their families and communities.
inquest.org
November 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Thanks @inquest.bsky.social for featuring an excerpt from Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice.
Reposted by Josh Page
For much of this nation's history, health care for incarcerated people was provided directly by state prison or health authorities. But today, roughly two dozen states use for-profit health care contractors.
In Illinois, a Private Prison Company’s Long Trail of Deaths and High-Dollar Contracts
This year, Illinois again picked Wexford Health Services for prison health care despite longstanding claims of neglect. A judge has since extended court monitoring of prisons.
boltsmag.org
November 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM
For much of this nation's history, health care for incarcerated people was provided directly by state prison or health authorities. But today, roughly two dozen states use for-profit health care contractors.
Reposted by Josh Page
Book talk! @FinesandFeesJC on Legal Plunder – A moderated discussion with Josh Page, Joe Soss, and Joanna Weiss
Dec 3, 2025 11:00 AM CT
Register for the webinar or in-person talk at NYU Law here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Dec 3, 2025 11:00 AM CT
Register for the webinar or in-person talk at NYU Law here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: FFJC Presents: Legal Plunder – A Moderated Discussion with the Authors. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
We are excited to invite you to an informative panel discussion with Joe Soss and Joshua Page, the authors of Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice, a book exploring how fines an...
us02web.zoom.us
November 17, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Book talk! @FinesandFeesJC on Legal Plunder – A moderated discussion with Josh Page, Joe Soss, and Joanna Weiss
Dec 3, 2025 11:00 AM CT
Register for the webinar or in-person talk at NYU Law here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Dec 3, 2025 11:00 AM CT
Register for the webinar or in-person talk at NYU Law here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Josh Page
They did an excellent job with this one. I’m always impressed with how LWT communicates the wonkiest things in an engaging way (like how local station funding allocations work, and how this has hurt local rural stations far more than NPR the national org and better funded, usu larger city stations)
Here’s last night’s story about public media, who it serves, what we can do to counteract the Trump administration’s budget cuts to it, and why the answer is “sell Russell Crowe’s jock strap.” You’ll see. youtu.be/yknMJOgy2pA
Public Media: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
youtu.be
November 17, 2025 at 4:04 PM
They did an excellent job with this one. I’m always impressed with how LWT communicates the wonkiest things in an engaging way (like how local station funding allocations work, and how this has hurt local rural stations far more than NPR the national org and better funded, usu larger city stations)
Reposted by Josh Page
This is far worse than anyone expected.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump Administration to Drastically Cut Housing Grants
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:21 AM
This is far worse than anyone expected.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Reposted by Josh Page
"Mark my words, one wrong step in this town’ll land you in a whole heap of social services."
Not Sure How They Deal With Criminals In Your Town, But ’Round Here We Use A Restorative Justice Process
Well, well, well. What have we got here? Another city slicker who thinks he can waltz into my town and start causin’ all sorts of trouble. I’d be careful if I was you, fella. Because however they do t...
theonion.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:00 AM
"Mark my words, one wrong step in this town’ll land you in a whole heap of social services."
Reposted by Josh Page
So cool! Prince *loved* libraries. For example, this is one donation he made from his charity a few days after 9/11 to save the Louisville Free Public Library, the first library in the community to serve African Americans.
November 9, 2025 at 12:00 AM
So cool! Prince *loved* libraries. For example, this is one donation he made from his charity a few days after 9/11 to save the Louisville Free Public Library, the first library in the community to serve African Americans.
Reposted by Josh Page
Reposted by Josh Page
The Flex Loan, a new type of payday loan pioneered by Advance Financial in Tennessee, allows residents to borrow up to $4,000 at a 279.5% interest rate.
It has burdened low-income borrowers while generating huge profits for lenders.
(Published May with @tennesseelookout.com)
It has burdened low-income borrowers while generating huge profits for lenders.
(Published May with @tennesseelookout.com)
This Lender Said Its Loans Would Help Tennesseans. It Has Sued More Than 110,000 of Them.
The Flex Loan, a type of payday loan pioneered by Advance Financial, has burdened low-income borrowers while generating huge profits for lenders. Tennessee lawmakers declined to rein in the lending bu...
www.propublica.org
November 8, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The Flex Loan, a new type of payday loan pioneered by Advance Financial in Tennessee, allows residents to borrow up to $4,000 at a 279.5% interest rate.
It has burdened low-income borrowers while generating huge profits for lenders.
(Published May with @tennesseelookout.com)
It has burdened low-income borrowers while generating huge profits for lenders.
(Published May with @tennesseelookout.com)
Reposted by Josh Page
This has not gotten much attention, but it should.
Virginia under Youngkin returned to an insanely harsh system where people convicted of any felony lose their voting rights FOR LIFE.
Dems' win this week mean they'll get to advance a constitutional amendment to end lifetime disenfranchisement.
Virginia under Youngkin returned to an insanely harsh system where people convicted of any felony lose their voting rights FOR LIFE.
Dems' win this week mean they'll get to advance a constitutional amendment to end lifetime disenfranchisement.
November 7, 2025 at 8:59 PM
This has not gotten much attention, but it should.
Virginia under Youngkin returned to an insanely harsh system where people convicted of any felony lose their voting rights FOR LIFE.
Dems' win this week mean they'll get to advance a constitutional amendment to end lifetime disenfranchisement.
Virginia under Youngkin returned to an insanely harsh system where people convicted of any felony lose their voting rights FOR LIFE.
Dems' win this week mean they'll get to advance a constitutional amendment to end lifetime disenfranchisement.
Reposted by Josh Page
I wrote for @slate.com about a legendary (and violent) Tennessee sheriff who more likely than not murdered his wife and the people who want to keep him on a pedestal.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Her Husband Claimed She Was Murdered by the Mob. Hollywood Made a Hit Film About It. The Truth Was Far Darker.
A mythical sheriff, a murder—and a Tennessee town that wants none of it.
slate.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:57 PM
I wrote for @slate.com about a legendary (and violent) Tennessee sheriff who more likely than not murdered his wife and the people who want to keep him on a pedestal.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Josh Page
How and why did police in liberal democracies become militarized? Drawing on colonial history, our video of the week shows how methods honed during empire were imported into domestic policing through an “imperial boomerang.”
Feat. @juliango.bsky.social at @aissr.bsky.social
buff.ly/pFAv0pr
Feat. @juliango.bsky.social at @aissr.bsky.social
buff.ly/pFAv0pr
October 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
How and why did police in liberal democracies become militarized? Drawing on colonial history, our video of the week shows how methods honed during empire were imported into domestic policing through an “imperial boomerang.”
Feat. @juliango.bsky.social at @aissr.bsky.social
buff.ly/pFAv0pr
Feat. @juliango.bsky.social at @aissr.bsky.social
buff.ly/pFAv0pr
Reposted by Josh Page
"The notices state that “Payment in full is due now” & list an array of potential consequences for failure to pay, including collection litigation & negative impacts on their immigration cases. Fines that aren’t paid in full will accrue interest."
Children in detention can't work. And are CHILDREN.
Children in detention can't work. And are CHILDREN.
DHS Is Billing Unaccompanied Immigrant Kids $5,000
The Trump administration is slapping teenagers in federal custody with fees for crossing the border under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
theintercept.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:47 PM
"The notices state that “Payment in full is due now” & list an array of potential consequences for failure to pay, including collection litigation & negative impacts on their immigration cases. Fines that aren’t paid in full will accrue interest."
Children in detention can't work. And are CHILDREN.
Children in detention can't work. And are CHILDREN.
Reposted by Josh Page
I think Houston might actually have outdone NYC in terms of creativity in its puppy Halloween costume contest.
October 31, 2025 at 2:12 AM
I think Houston might actually have outdone NYC in terms of creativity in its puppy Halloween costume contest.
Reposted by Josh Page
It’s worth noting that in the few months when the 2024 rules were active, most facilities & providers successfully implemented the rates without issue, saving incarcerated people and their families millions of dollars.
October 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
It’s worth noting that in the few months when the 2024 rules were active, most facilities & providers successfully implemented the rates without issue, saving incarcerated people and their families millions of dollars.
Reposted by Josh Page
🚨NEW: The FCC has voted to raise calling rates for incarcerated people – a move that bends to the will of telecomm companies, jails and prisons, while saddling poor families with higher costs.
Now, prices could hike as much as 83% 🧵
Now, prices could hike as much as 83% 🧵
October 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
🚨NEW: The FCC has voted to raise calling rates for incarcerated people – a move that bends to the will of telecomm companies, jails and prisons, while saddling poor families with higher costs.
Now, prices could hike as much as 83% 🧵
Now, prices could hike as much as 83% 🧵
Reposted by Josh Page
Just incredibly, unnecessarily cruel. And I’d be shocked if there wasn’t wanton corruption going on here, too.
It literally took decades of advocacy to pass these reforms, which would have prevented prison phone and teleconferencing companies from ripping off inmates and their families to the tune of hundreds of millions annually
F.C.C. Changes Course on the Price of Prisoners’ Phone Calls
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Just incredibly, unnecessarily cruel. And I’d be shocked if there wasn’t wanton corruption going on here, too.
Reposted by Josh Page
Does spending thousands on gun range memberships or fitness trackers for jail staff really sound like it benefits the “general welfare” of incarcerated people?
Prisons & jails across the US are abusing “inmate welfare funds” – and getting away with it:
Prisons & jails across the US are abusing “inmate welfare funds” – and getting away with it:
October 28, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Does spending thousands on gun range memberships or fitness trackers for jail staff really sound like it benefits the “general welfare” of incarcerated people?
Prisons & jails across the US are abusing “inmate welfare funds” – and getting away with it:
Prisons & jails across the US are abusing “inmate welfare funds” – and getting away with it: