Beyond Policing

By: Philip V. McHarris

Narrated by: Philip V. McHarris

What would happen if policing disappeared? Would we be safe? This book imagines a world without police.

It’s evident that policing is a problem. But what is the way best forward? In Beyond Policing, distinguished scholar and writer Philip V. McHarris reimagines the world without police to find answers and reveal how we can make police departments obsolete.

Beyond Policing tackles thorny issues with evidence, including data and personal stories, to uncover the weight of policing on people and communities and the patterns that prove police reform only leads to more policing.

McHarris challenges us to envision a future where safety is not synonymous with policing but is built on the foundation of community support and preventive measures. He explores innovative community-based safety models (like community mediators and violence interrupters), the decriminalization of driving offenses, and the creation of nonpolice crisis response teams. McHarris also outlines strategies for responding to conflict and harm in ways that transform the conditions that give rise to the issues. He asks us to imagine a world where people thrive without the shadow of inequality, where our approach to safety is a collective achievement.

McHarris writes, “What if our response to crisis wasn’t about control but about care? How can we create conditions where safety is a shared responsibility? How can we design justice so that no community is routinely oppressed? Envisioning such a world isn’t just a daydream; it’s the first step toward building a society where violence and fear no longer dictate our lives.”

Transformative and forward thinking, Beyond Policing provides a blueprint for a brighter, safer world. McHarris’s vision is clear: we must dare to move beyond policing and foster a society where everyone has the resources to thrive and feel safe.

©2024 Philip V. McHarris (P)2024 Legacy Lit

Critic reviews

“A sweeping overview of the movement to create a police free future and a vision of how to get there.”—Alex S. Vitale, author of The End of Policing

“In Beyond Policing, McHarris proves that police abolition has the power to unite us all around achieving true public safety without sacrificing anyone as collateral damage. McHarris opens with a history of policing in America, its exponential expansion, and the danger in recent reforms that depend on data and surveillance. Then, through vignettes and introductions to existing community-led solutions, we get glimpses into the world that would actually keep us safe: one full of relationships, prevention, and strategic interventions. [The] book tears down the myth of policing and prisons as necessary and replaces it with a vision of safety that leaves none of us behind. [This] book makes the best case for what abolition could look like in practice. If we dare to try.”—Brea Baker, author of Rooted

“In this visionary yet sober account, Philip V. McHarris marshals empirical data and personal stories to show that the police function not to keep all of us safe but to maintain racial and class order. A half-century of reform has done nothing to reduce police brutality, terror, wrongful deaths, or crime. Beyond Policing offers a new vision of public safety, one that recognizes social and economic security as safety issues. Even skeptics will agree: abolition may be the only viable path to a humane civil society.”—Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Freedom Dreams

Must read!

This book is a vital read for anyone interested in reimagining public safety beyond the confines of conventional policing. The author provides a clear history and compelling critique of traditional law enforcement, arguing for a transformative approach to public safety that centers on community investment and social justice - highlighting the importance of addressing systemic inequalities instead. His analysis is both insightful and accessible, making complex ideas understandable for a broad audience. Whether you're an abolitionist or simply looking for where to start... this is your book!

An excellent audio book filled with nuanced insight on public safety!

The author’s voice is beautiful and the book really captures so much! I learned a lot about the histories of policing and the movement to create community safety approaches.

Interludes and Change

Beyond Policing by Phillip McHarris is a thought provoking book that challenges the way we think about police. It explores how communities can stay safe without relying on traditional policing, focusing on solutions like support, care, and fairness. It's a must-read for anyone interested in justice and change.