Protect Your People: How Ordinary Families Are Using Participatory Defense to Challenge Mass Incarceration

Shortlisted, 2025 Goddard Riverside Stephan Russo Book Prize for Social Justice

An eye-opening look at "participatory defense," the innovative practice that allows the loved ones of those charged with crimes to help influence the outcome of court cases, by the MacArthur Award-winning activist

The courthouse is an important part of every story of mass incarceration in America and, too often, it is a place of powerlessness for those facing criminal charges, their families, and their communities. But the courthouse can also be an important site of resistance, a place where Americans affected by incarceration can become agents of change--even though they are not lawyers or judges. Writing for those new to activism and seasoned organizers alike, celebrated criminal justice advocate Raj Jayadev provides a comprehensive introduction to participatory defense, the incredibly effective community organizing model that leads to better outcomes for criminal cases, shifting power in courtrooms along the way.