Black Lives Matter: Reviewing Jill Leovy, Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America (Spiegel & Grau 2015)

Abstract

This essay reviewing a work of journalism about the investigation and prosecution of criminal homicide in South Los Angeles considers the author's argument that serious shortcomings in the police investigation of homicides with black victims contributes significantly to high rates of violence in the black community. The essay touches on the emotional toll of homicide, tensions between detectives and patrol officers in homicide investigations, qualities of the most effective detectives, differential resources given to homicide cases according to location of offense and data on homicide clearance rates in the United States.

Keywords: race, homicide, police investigation, clearance rates, black on black homicide