After a brief introduction, the book is broken into three essays with citations and footnotes, written over the course of Karakatsanis' career.

Karakatsanis argues there is no evidence that criminalizing drug use "address[es] any social ill whatsoever".

[citation needed] Karakatsanis argues that the outcomes the criminal system creates are the result of choices made by politicians, prosecutors, police, and "elites".

He cites several examples that were or were not prosecuted, including waterboarding, the NSA's wiretapping program, Tim DeChristopher's non-serious bid on a federal land auction, the Killing of Eric Garner, and the prosecution of Ramsey Orta following the killing.

Karakatsanis cautions against reform that does not substantially shrink the criminal system's budget and influence.