When Robert Baldwin was forced to retire from his medical practice for health reasons, he went back to school and studied public policy. His life changed when he discovered that his previous racial attitudes and beliefs about issues such as capital punishment were indefensible. Over time, the more he learned about inequalities in the criminal justice system, the more he felt compelled to act.

Today, Baldwin works in a two-part prison ministry: in one part, he visits with inmates on a personal level; in the other part, he teaches and preaches to people on the outside about the myths and misconceptions about prisons and criminal justice. He is especially focused on the death penalty.

In this volume, he uses a conversational first-person style to lay out the issues. The issues include racial bias in convictions and sentencing; the disconnect between changing public attitudes and political rhetoric; the tension between what is right for society and what is right for the families of murder victims; and the debate over rehabilitation versus punishment. Baldwin approaches his topic from a Christian perspective and often addresses himself directly to other Christians. But his book is thoughtful and provocative and will prove enlightening to persons of all faiths.

about the author
Robert Baldwin lives in Birmingham, Alabama.