City of Inmates

City of Inmates explores the historical roots of Los Angeles' rise as a leading center of incarceration, tracing over two centuries of Native elimination, immigrant exclusion, and racial violence. Historian Kelly Lytle Hernandez reveals how themes of conquest and settler colonialism have shaped the city’s penal system, while also highlighting stories of resistance and rebellion by affected communities. The book offers a compelling account of the ongoing struggle against incarceration’s grip on the city and beyond.