CRM1420 Assignment: Critical Review of 'On the Run' by Goffman

This report presents a comprehensive review of Alice Goffman's 'On the Run: Fugitive Life in an American City'. The review delves into the book's core content, exploring its setting in 6th Street, Pennsylvania, and the lives of its main characters, including Mike, Reggie, Chuck, Tim, and Alex. It examines Goffman's ethnographic method, her six-year-long fieldwork, and the ethical considerations that arose. The report highlights the book's portrayal of the daily struggles of young black males in an urban environment, the influence of racism, and the impact of mass incarceration and the war on drugs. Additionally, it discusses the book's strengths and weaknesses, including the controversies surrounding Goffman's methods and the voices that may have been missing. Finally, it considers the book's contribution to the understanding of urban life and the criminal justice system in the USA.

On the Run-
book review

INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................4
Context/background to the book ..........................................................................................................4
Who is author....................................................................................................................................4
Where the book set...........................................................................................................................4
Main characteristics in books............................................................................................................4
Main premise of the book.................................................................................................................4
Wider context to the book.................................................................................................................4
What perspectives/does she take in relation to criminal justice in the USA......................................4
Specific method used in the book..........................................................................................................4
How was data gathered.....................................................................................................................4
How long did it take...........................................................................................................................5
What is the specific method called....................................................................................................5
How did her time in the field effect Goffman....................................................................................5
Main issues/themes covered in book....................................................................................................5
Main topic and issue featured in book: How are their everyday lives experienced?.........................5
What were their growing up experiences?........................................................................................5
Does Goffman portray their lives.......................................................................................................6
What is good/important about the book-what are its strength ...........................................................6
Important themes and issues are covered.........................................................................................6
Does the book contribute/add experience of young black males in urban America.........................6
What are the issues/controversies and weakness of book....................................................................6
Ethical issues......................................................................................................................................6
The author.........................................................................................................................................6
Controversies with the method used.................................................................................................6
What voices were missing .................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
On the run is book which was introduced by Alice Goffman as well as it was set in 6 th Street
in Pennsylvania. Along with this, there are main 6 characters in respective book who are named as
MIKE, RAGGIE, CHUCK, TIM and ALEX. Main discussion which was conducted within
this report is how to live on the run. This book was given by Alice Goffman is author of book
and she was born in 1982 as well as notable work done by her is On the Run: Fugitive Life in
an American City. Goffman became well known of scholarly controversies concerning her
book On the Run: Fugitive Life in an Amercan City, an ethnographic account of the
fieldwork for her PhD dissertation on the impact of mass incarceration and policing on low-
income African-American urban communities.
Context/background to the book
Who is author
Alice Goffman is author of book and she was born in 1982 as well as notable work
done by her is On the Run: Fugitive Life in an American City. Goffman became well known
of scholarly controversies concerning her book On the Run: Fugitive Life in an Amercan
City, an ethnographic account of the fieldwork for her PhD dissertation on the impact of mass
incarceration and policing on low-income African-American urban communities.
Where the book set
Book was set in 6th Street in Pennsylvania as well as Alice Goffman is author of book
and she was born in 1982 as well as notable work done by her is On the Run: Fugitive Life in
an American City.
Main characteristics in books
There are main 6 characteristic in book i.e., MIKE, RAGGIE, CHUCK, TIM and
ALEX. All of them played important role within entire book On the run: Fugitive Life in an
American City.
Main premise of the book
On the run book main premise is how to live on the run. Because this entire book
based on this topic this is the main reason that entire discussion within this book was
conducted on respective topic.

Wider context to the book
In respective book there are several wider contexts which has been discussed such as history
of race & racism in America, tough on crime, urban poverty, mass imprisonment and the war in drugs.
On only in book these are major issues which people are facing now a days.
What perspectives/does she take in relation to criminal justice in the USA
Alice Goffman perception related to criminal juistice is positive as she also want that
people should get punished who are doing any criminal activity. If punishments will not
given to people then it may incraese level of criminal activities within society. So it is
necessary to do justice on criminal activities which are taking place.
Specific method used in the book
How was data gathered
There are several sources of data gathering but within this respective book it is different as
she had notebook. In that, she wrote every evening what happen within entire day. Through such
practices data was gathered by her and it is most easy way because she wrote each and every thing on
daily basis that may not result in difficulty at the end.
How long did it take
This entire duration of collecting data and writing book i.e., On the Run has taken 6 years.
What is the specific method called
Specific method which she use is Ethnography. It is defined as an illuminative account of
social life as well as culture in particular social system that has been based on multiple detailed
observation of what people are doing actually in social setting has been observed. Ethnography is
explained as both qualitative as well as quantitative research methods which has been utilise by
sociologists while studying specific groups, communities or institutions which has been founded as art
of large complex society. As she lives with people so in this manner such research help her in getting
more detail about topic along with wider answers of questions.
How did her time in the field effect Goffman
Alice Goffman was get emotionally affected by death of chuck’s as well as through several
other events also which was taken place from 6th Street.
Main issues/themes covered in book
Main topic and issue featured in book: How are their everyday lives experienced?

Main topic is run and several issues has been featured in book such as history of race &
racism in America, tough on crime, urban poverty, mass imprisonment and the war in drugs. Their
everyday lives experience different methods as well as tricks which they are using to run away from
police.
What were their growing up experiences?
From young age they are in contact of these background where such practices take
place such as such as history of race & racism in America, tough on crime, urban poverty,
mass imprisonment and the war in drugs. Along with this they grow up by running away
from police which simple means life on the run.
Does Goffman portray their lives
No, Goffman don’t portray their lives because they cannot go to hospital and have to live in
different houses. Apart from this role of women is that some of them are true riders and other are
snitchers.
What is good/important about the book-what are its strength
Important themes and issues are covered
In this book several major issues of society has been covered such as racism as Alice
Goffman has been always stopped because she is black people, stigmatisation which is social
exclusion, antithesis within police as well as people of 6th street.
Does the book contribute/add experience of young black males in urban America
Book has been contribute at wide level and come up with reality of young black males in
urban America through this book. In addition to this, why these people are on run because they are
selling drugs.
What are the issues/controversies and weakness of book
Ethical issues
There are numerous ethical issues she is facing such as positionality, safety, complicit,
accuracy and several other.
The author
She become friend of those boys as well as she have sensibility and also involved in
their lives. Ecause living with someone and not involve with them create difficultities for the

one who. Thus, Alice Goffman become friend of that boys as well as also get involved within
their activities.
Controversies with the method used
She was also involved within such activity which is the main reason behind no corporation
with cops. If Alice Goffam will involve with crops then she with entire team get punshied for
unethical activities conducting by them.
What voices were missing
Voices were missing is police officers who stopped the as well as she put herself in
danger sometimes as she have active participation within entire activities.
CONCLUSION
After going through above discussion it has been summarised that there are still some
issues related to black and fair people. There are numerous individual who are going through
this within current modern era. Within this book, six characters are involved each and every
individual played important role in entire story.

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