Alexes Harris's A Pound of Flesh examines how monetary sanctions in the criminal justice system, including fines, fees, and surcharges, have created a two-tiered system of justice that perpetually punishes the poor. Harris, a sociologist at the University of Washington, conducted extensive interviews with people convicted of felonies, observing court proceedings and tracing how financial obligations accumulated. She shows how defendants who cannot pay are subject to extended supervision, drivers license suspensions, and even reincarceration, while those with resources can pay their way out. Harris traces the history of monetary sanctions, showing how they expanded as states sought revenue and as retributive philosophies gained influence. She demonstrates how these penalties fall disproportionately on minorities and the poor, not because of higher offense rates but because of inability to pay and differential enforcement. A Pound of Flesh combines sociological analysis with human stories, making the systematic injustice visceral. Harris also examines the limited effectiveness of monetary sanctions as punishment, showing that they fail to deter and often impede rehabilitation. Essential reading for anyone concerned with criminal justice reform or seeking to understand how the justice system perpetuates inequality.