Mr. Abramsky read from his book, American Furies: Crime, Punishment, and Vengeance in the Age of Mass Imprisonment, published by Beacon Press. He criticized the present state of American prisons, arguing that for largely political reasons, prisons focus not on rehabilitating inmates but instead on vengeance. He said that mandatory minimums, long sentences for non-violent offenders, private prisons and other criminal justice issues have large social costs and demean American culture. After his presentation he responded to audience members' questions.