Policing Welfare

Name: Policing Welfare
Brand: Unknown
SKU: 9780226779362
Price: 66.99 NZD
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Punitive Adversarialism in Public Assistance

By Spencer Headworth

Summary

Policing Welfare explores the rigorous enforcement of means-tested government assistance in the United States. Spencer Headworth provides a detailed study of how various governmental agencies, from federal to local, enforce a complex set of eligibility rules designed to ensure benefits reach the "truly needy." The book reveals the harsh realities of welfare policing, exposing how this system intensifies stigma and exacerbates social inequalities based on class, race, and gender.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$66⁹⁹

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Policing Welfare

$66⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for readers interested in social policy, welfare systems, sociology, legal studies, and issues of poverty and inequality. It appeals to scholars, policymakers, and those seeking a critical understanding of the mechanisms behind welfare enforcement in the US.

Description

Means-tested government assistance in the United States requires recipients to meet certain criteria and continue to maintain their eligibility so that benefits are paid to the “truly needy.” Welfare is regarded with such suspicion in this country that considerable resources are spent policing the boundaries of eligibility, which are delineated by an often confusing and baroque set of rules and regulations.

Even minor infractions of the many rules can cause people to be dropped from these programs, and possibly face criminal prosecution. In this book, Spencer Headworth offers the first study of the structure of fraud control in the welfare system by examining the relations between different levels of governmental agencies, from federal to local, and their enforcement practices.

Policing Welfare shows how the enforcement regime of welfare has been constructed to further stigmatize those already living in poverty and deepens disparities of class, race, and gender in our society.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Reuben Jonathan Miller praises the book as "highly original, insightful, and carefully researched," highlighting its deep dive into welfare fraud investigation units and the concept of "punitive adversarialism." He notes its significant contribution to political and urban sociology, legal theory, and the study of punishment. The review emphasises the book as essential for understanding the administrative state's role in modern poverty policy and welfare enforcement.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780226779362

Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 11 May 2021

Country: United States

Imprint: University of Chicago Press

Illustration: 2 line drawings, 2 tables

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 399g

Pages: 272

Collections

Education & Reference Non-Fiction Spencer Headworth

About the Author

Spencer Headworth is assistant professor of sociology at Purdue University.