What will I learn about: Effective criminal investigation requires a commitment to the truth that goes beyond simply closing cases, meaning investigators must constantly withhold their own presumptions of guilt or innocence?

Effective criminal investigation requires a commitment to the truth that goes beyond simply closing cases, meaning investigators must constantly withhold their own presumptions of guilt or innocence.

What will I learn about: Because a formal accusation irrevocably changes a person's life, prosecutors must deliberate carefully and resist internal or public pressures to secure a specific outcome or conviction?

Because a formal accusation irrevocably changes a person's life, prosecutors must deliberate carefully and resist internal or public pressures to secure a specific outcome or conviction.

What will I learn about: True justice relies heavily on prosecutorial discretion—the ethical responsibility to know when to enforce the law to its fullest extent and when to show leniency based on the specific context of a crime?

True justice relies heavily on prosecutorial discretion—the ethical responsibility to know when to enforce the law to its fullest extent and when to show leniency based on the specific context of a crime.

What will I learn about: Serving justice isn't always about adopting the safest courtroom strategy to guarantee a win; sometimes, it is about giving marginalized victims a platform to be heard and taken seriously?

Serving justice isn't always about adopting the safest courtroom strategy to guarantee a win; sometimes, it is about giving marginalized victims a platform to be heard and taken seriously.

What will I learn about: While the justice system can hold people accountable, true societal transformation and personal redemption ultimately stem from human compassion and forgiveness rather than the law itself?

While the justice system can hold people accountable, true societal transformation and personal redemption ultimately stem from human compassion and forgiveness rather than the law itself.

Doing Justice

A Prosecutor’s Thoughts on Crime, Punishment, and the Rule of Law

Preet Bharara

★ 4.7 / 5(27 ratings)

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Society & Culture

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡How did the investigation of the 2004 Madrid train bombings prove that even supposedly foolproof forensic evidence—like an FBI fingerprint match—can be dangerously derailed by human bias?
💡When attempting to break a powerful 'code of silence' among potential witnesses, why do seasoned investigators often abandon aggressive interrogation tactics in favor of deep empathy and a humane approach?
💡How do prosecutors balance the urgent need to protect the public with the strict burden of proof when a suspect is plotting horrific crimes online, but claims it is all just a dark fantasy?

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Key Takeaways from Doing Justice

✓Effective criminal investigation requires a commitment to the truth that goes beyond simply closing cases, meaning investigators must constantly withhold their own presumptions of guilt or innocence.
✓Because a formal accusation irrevocably changes a person's life, prosecutors must deliberate carefully and resist internal or public pressures to secure a specific outcome or conviction.
✓True justice relies heavily on prosecutorial discretion—the ethical responsibility to know when to enforce the law to its fullest extent and when to show leniency based on the specific context of a crime.
✓Serving justice isn't always about adopting the safest courtroom strategy to guarantee a win; sometimes, it is about giving marginalized victims a platform to be heard and taken seriously.
✓While the justice system can hold people accountable, true societal transformation and personal redemption ultimately stem from human compassion and forgiveness rather than the law itself.

Learning Tools

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Mind Map

Doing Justice

The Inquiry Phase+

The Accusation Phase+

The Judgment Phase+

The Punishment Phase+

Prison Reform & Humanity+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10

What key lesson did the author learn regarding the inquiry phase from the Menendez brothers' case?

A. Fingerprint evidence is often unreliable and should always be corroborated.
B. Investigators must withhold presumptions of guilt or innocence, as one can never be completely sure what someone is capable of.
C. Confessions are usually coerced under pressure and should be heavily scrutinized.
D. High-profile cases require faster investigation timelines to satisfy public demand.

Question 2 of 10

How does the Brandon Mayfield case illustrate the danger of biases in investigations?

A. Investigators ignored his clear alibi because he was a lawyer.
B. The FBI fabricated fingerprint evidence to close a high-profile case quickly.
C. Experts became overconfident in a flawed fingerprint match due to Mayfield's religious background and associations.
D. The Spanish National Police refused to share vital evidence with American authorities due to political biases.

Question 3 of 10

According to investigator Steve Braccini, what is the most effective approach to gaining a cooperative witness?

A. Threatening them with maximum prison sentences if they refuse to talk.
B. Offering large financial rewards and immunity for their testimony.
C. Using aggressive interrogation tactics to break their code of silence.
D. Taking a humane approach and showing empathy based on their personal history.

Question 4 of 10

Why did the author explicitly tell his team he did not expect a specific outcome in the Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos investigations?

A. To prevent prosecutors from rushing to conclusions or bringing charges under pressure.
B. Because he secretly believed the politicians were innocent of the corruption charges.
C. To lower the media's expectations before the trial officially began.
D. Because he planned to hand the cases over to state prosecutors to avoid federal involvement.

Question 5 of 10

In the case of Gilberto Valle, what was the primary dilemma the prosecutors and the judge faced?

A. Determining whether the wiretaps used to catch him were legally obtained.
B. Deciding whether a suspect's online activities represented a real, imminent threat or merely a dark fantasy.
C. Figuring out how to protect an undercover agent from being discovered by the suspect.
D. Balancing the suspect's right to free speech with his wife's right to privacy.

Question 6 of 10

How does the author view the concept of 'discretion' in law enforcement?

A. It is a loophole that corrupt politicians frequently use to avoid jail time.
B. It should be eliminated so that all laws are enforced to their absolute maximum extent.
C. It is an ethical responsibility that allows prosecutors to consider fairness and justice in individual cases.
D. It is only applicable in federal cases, not local or state crimes.

Question 7 of 10

Why did the prosecutors choose to take SueAnn's case to trial instead of settling out of court?

A. They wanted to set a new legal precedent for the rights of sex workers.
B. Justice for SueAnn meant giving a historically marginalized woman the opportunity to be heard in court.
C. The defense refused any plea deals because of SueAnn's criminal history.
D. They needed the media attention to secure more funding for their department.

Question 8 of 10

What action did prosecutors take when Judge T.S. Ellis III unfairly reprimanded them during the Paul Manafort trial?

A. They filed a motion to have the judge clarify to the jury that the prosecution did not make a mistake.
B. They immediately filed for a mistrial due to judicial prejudice.
C. They leaked the judge's bias to the press to gain public sympathy.
D. They ignored the reprimand because challenging a federal judge often leads to contempt charges.

Question 9 of 10

What does the tragic death of Jason Eschavarria at Rikers Island demonstrate about the prison system?

A. Inmates frequently fabricate medical emergencies to escape their cells.
B. Minimum security prisons are ill-equipped to handle violent offenders.
C. The dehumanizing environment can lead guards to show deliberate and aggressive indifference to human life.
D. Prison reform has successfully eliminated the use of toxic chemicals in state facilities.

Question 10 of 10

What is the main takeaway from the story of Rais Bhuiyan and Mark Anthony Stroman?

A. The death penalty is the only way to bring closure to victims of hate crimes.
B. True societal change and personal redemption often come from human qualities like forgiveness, rather than the law itself.
C. The justice system moves too slowly to effectively deter domestic terrorism.
D. Victims of violent crimes should be allowed to determine the perpetrator's sentence.

Doing Justice — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
21 — Good inquiry requires a dedicated investigator who withholds judgment and works hard.
32 — The 3/11 bombing in Madrid shows why reappraisal matters.
43 — Processes should be questioned regularly, and humane questioning is essential for cooperative witnesses.
54 — Accusations can alter lives, so they should be made for justice—not under pressure.
65 — Prosecutors must weigh evidence against threats to the public.
76 — Crime often goes unpunished in corrupt cultures, and prosecutors should expect criticism from every side.
87 — Justice can mean giving someone their day in court.
98 — Some judges can tilt the scales of justice, and good trial lawyers prepare both sides of the case.
109 — The question of fair punishment is often unclear.
1110 — Prison reform should matter to anyone who believes in justice.
1211 — The law can only go so far; real change must come from the people.
1312 — Final summary

Doing Justice Summary & Overview

Doing Justice (2019) is a window into the remarkable career of former federal attorney, Preet Bharara. It shares the wisdom that Bharara gained over the years, from tips that every trial lawyer should know to his thoughts on prison reform. Also included are thrilling stories of the formative criminal cases Bharara was involved in, and those that continue to linger in his mind.

Who Should Listen to Doing Justice?

Lawyers and law students
Social justice advocates
Anyone interested in the American justice system

About the Author: Preet Bharara

Preet Bharara is the former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York (2009 - 2017). As the supervisor of over 200 Assistant US Attorneys, he oversaw cases ranging from cybercrime to gang violence. He’s been featured as among Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” and included on Vanity Fair’s “New Establishment” list. He’s currently a faculty member at the NYU School of Law and can be heard on the popular podcast Stay Tuned with Preet.

Doing Justice

If You're Curious About These Questions...

Listen to Doing Justice — Free Audiobook

Key Takeaways from Doing Justice

Learning Tools

Mind Map

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Doing Justice — Full Chapter Overview

Doing Justice Summary & Overview

Who Should Listen to Doing Justice?

About the Author: Preet Bharara

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