Literary Nonfiction (Criminal legislation, Race kinfolk, U.S. Political History). modern Fiction. a special mixing of nonfiction (the protection lawyer's viewpoint) and fiction (the writer's view) on a subject matter of devastating main issue to sufferers, the accused and, unusually, the entire remainder of us. Alex Landon (the legal professional) and Elaine Halleck (the novelist) discover a tough subject — the impression of legislation enacted within the aftermath of brutal and sensationalized crimes, often murders of white teenagers — on these accused of lesser intercourse crimes and on society as an entire. the 2 authors' debts "parallel" each other, describing accused humans exiled into "a parallel universe" the place ideas enshrined within the American dream are ignored.

A PARALLEL UNIVERSE
Two stories of public folly and private devastation

In this genre-busting morality story, authors take the reader on unforeseen trips — unforeseen simply because they oppose great and imprecise perceptions which are themselves embraced with ethical fervor.

The timeline of either the fictitious and nonfictional tale starts in 2000 and traverses a nervous decade. The "millennium computer virus" does not materialize, however the Sept. 11 assaults do, bringing a stampede of apocalyptic horsemen — illness scares, monetary malaise, a mindless battle and simmering racism.

The surroundings of either stories is usually California, stated to be the way forward for the area. the following, helicopters pursuing "illegal aliens," scrambling jet warring parties, and black towers beaming Amber signals preside over 14-lane freeways. This panorama is convulsed every now and then via abductions of photogenic kids — infrequent tragedies which are crafted into media tsunamis bringing of their wake “designer legislation” that eventually make issues worse.

The panorama is highlighted through a image: a blonde, Sunday institution instructor stares at a working laptop or computer, her hand overlaying her mouth, whereas a sheriff indicates her “Megan’s list,” a database profiling one out of each a hundred thirty five California males — that could contain stuck along with his underage female friend, or a guy who took a leak in a box close to the Mexican border. open air the picture body are those that enabled it: politicians molding incorrect information into photographs starring themselves as saviors. “An regular intercourse criminal, of their lifetime, commits 360 intercourse offenses," claims one.

Thus is created a category of guys who stay in worry of a knock at the door, don’t get jobs and are pushed from their houses. One is Danny Fernandez, a unmarried father who clings to the yank dream at the same time a witch hunt exiles him right into a parallel universe the place rules enshrined in that dream are ignored.

Alex Landon is an legal professional focusing on felony legislation. he's an accessory professor on the collage of San Diego college of legislations, instructing Corrections and Sentencing for 26 years; previous president of California lawyers for legal Justice and the San Diego legal safeguard Bar organization; and previous government Director of the Defenders application of San Diego, Inc. he's a common speaker at seminars and public programs. 

Elaine Halleck is a journalist, image clothier and linguist. She has contributed to courses together with the (Detroit) Metro instances, the Tokyo magazine, the Sacramento information and evaluation and the Guadalajara Reporter.