Get Off My Neck - by Debbie Hines

About the Book

"An examination of the historical and present racial inequities of the prosecutorial system and a blueprint for transforming the system to one of fairness and justice"--

Book Synopsis

A deeply revealing exposé of the American prosecutorial system and its historic and present racial inequities--and how we can transform the system to one of fairness and justice.

In Get Off My Neck, Debbie Hines draws on her unique perspective as a trial lawyer, former Baltimore prosecutor, and assistant attorney general for the State of Maryland to argue that US prosecutors, as the most powerful players in the criminal justice system, systematically target and criminalize Black people. Hines describes her disillusionment as a young Black woman who initially entered the profession with the goal of helping victims of crimes, only to discover herself aiding and abetting a system that prizes plea bargaining, speedy conviction, and excessive punishment above all else. In this book, she offers concrete, specific, and hopeful solutions for just how we can come together in a common purpose for criminal justice and racial justice reform.

Get Off My Neck explains that the racial inequities in the prosecutorial system are built into our country's DNA. What's more, they are the direct result of a history that has conditioned Americans to perceive the Black body as insignificant at best and dangerous at worst. Unlike other books that discuss the prosecutor's office and change from inside the office, Hines offers a proactive approach to fixing our broken prosecutorial system through a broad-based alliance of reform-minded prosecutors, activists, allies, communities, and racial justice organizations--all working together to end the racist treatment of Black people.

Told intimately through personal, family, and client narratives, Get Off My Neck is not only a deeply sobering account of our criminal justice system and its devastating impact on Black children, youth, and adults but also a practical and inspiring roadmap for how we can start doing better right now.

Review Quotes

"Debbie Hines knows a lot about criminal justice--the former trial attorney, Baltimore prosecutor, and Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland has had years to hone her experience in this arena. As a Black woman who became disillusioned by the current state of affairs, Hines was inspired to write a book, sharing her personal experiences and offering up 'a proactive approach for fixing our broken prosecutorial system.'"
--Essence

"A forceful plea to reform the toxic entanglement of prosecution, policing, and probation in the criminal justice system."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Hines, a former public prosecutor in Baltimore and now a private defense attorney, debuts with a scathing indictment of the criminal justice system...what makes Hines's account uniquely worthwhile is her detailed and intriguing behind-the-scenes analysis of how prosecutors operate. This passionate firsthand critique will appeal to those interested in criminal justice reform."
--Publishers Weekly

"Her book, Get Off My Neck is a clear-eyed and chilling, research-driven presentation of a justice system which, she argues, is engineered to perpetuate a system tilted against black Americans."
--The Irish Times

"Many of the circumstances and particular cases Hines discusses in Get Off My Neck are grim, even sickening. But her experience has taught Hines to choose hope and struggle over despair. And that is encouraging."
--Artsfuse

About the Author

Former Baltimore prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland, and trial attorney Debbie Hines is an advocate for racial equity in the criminal justice system. She maintains a private law practice focused on civil and criminal litigation in Washington, DC. A leading voice in the discourse of criminal justice and race, Hines is often called on by media networks for legal commentary.