Keepers and the Caged: Heroes and Necromancers in the Prison System Today

• NCJ Number: 169825
• Author(s): J M Christenson
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 255 pages
• Sale Source: Kendall/ Hunt Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This book contains 21 interviews the author conducted with correctional, court, and law enforcement personnel, as well as community leaders and current and former inmates regarding the nature of life in prison in Washington State and how prison conditions and inmate-staff relations can be improved.

Abstract

An interview with Chase Riveland, Secretary of the Washington Department of Corrections, focuses on the nature of his job, current corrections policies, and the effectiveness of corrections in reducing crime. Three other interviews address perspectives on the Washington State corrections system and prison in particular. One interview is with a current inmate, another with a former inmate, and the third with a businessman whose company is involved in constructive change in corrections. Five interviews focus on the characteristics of the people in the corrections system and how they are treated. The interviews are conducted with the administrator of Juvenile Courts in one Washington State county, two inmates, a former correctional officer and the wife of an inmate, and a detective in the Seattle Police Department. Five interviews focus on the attitudes and perspectives of people in the corrections system and the rationales for the decisions they make. Interviews are conducted with Albert Rosellini, a former Washington State governor; three inmates; and a correctional officer. Three interviews address the role of religion in inmates' lives. The director of Washington State prisons, a minister, and a prisoner are interviewed on this topic. Four interviews pertain to suggestions for solutions to the current problems in corrections. Interviewees are an associate superintendent of custody, an inmate, a former corrections administrator, and a correctional officer. The interviews stand on their own, with little interpretation by the author. She does note, however, that the interviews had one thing in common; each interviewee made an impassioned plea to bring an end to hatred.