NCJ Number
68999
Date Published
1980
Length
0 pages
Annotation
A FORMER ATTORNEY RELATES HOW HE WENT TO PRISON FOR INVOLVEMENT IN AN INVESTMENT SCHEME AND WHAT HIS REACTIONS TO PRISON LIFE WERE.
Abstract
CAUGHT UP IN MONEY MAKING AND BORED WITH THE MONOTONY OF MOVING FROM ONE CASE TO THE NEXT, THE YOUNG LAWYER, PETER, LAUNCHED AN INVESTMENT PROJECT WHICH FAILED. RATHER THAN ADMITTING FAILURE, HE CONTINUED TO TAKE IN NEW MONEY, ROBBING FROM ONE CLIENT TO PAY THE NEXT. HE CONDITIONED HIMSELF TO ACCEPT THE ILLUSION THAT HIS BEHAVIOR WAS NOT ILLEGAL. WHEN CAUGHT, HE EXPERIENCED SHOCK, DEPRESSION, AND THE FEELING THAT NO ONE CARED, BUT HE ALSO HAD TIME TO PONDER HIS OWN VALUES. PRISON WAS A HARSH LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY. THE FAMILY HAD TO LIVE WITH THE HOSTILITY OF SOCIETY. BUT PETER ENTERED A WHOLE NEW WORLD IN WHICH HE WAS ASSIGNED TO A CELL AND LOCKED UP WITH MINIMAL POSSESSIONS. THE FIRST DAY WAS CHARACTERIZED BY FRUSTRATION, BOREDOM, AND HUMILIATION. AS A LAWYER WITH AN EDUCATION, HE FITTED IMMEDIATELY INTO UPPER CLASS PRISON SOCIETY. VISITS FROM HIS FAMILY BROKE THE MONOTONY. PRISONERS WERE GENERALLY BITTER, BUT MANY CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY AND AS A GROUP, TENDED TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER. NO ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO REHABILITATE PRISONERS; GUARDS FELT THAT THE ULTIMATE FUNCTION OF PRISONS WAS RETRIBUTION. THE PRISONERS COULD NOT AFFORD TO THINK ABOUT RELEASE UNTIL IT BECAME REALITY. THE NEED FOR MINIMUM SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS WAS APPARENT. IN SUMMARY, THE LAWYER LEARNED TO CRACK SAFES, TO UNDERSTAND THE NEW TESTAMENT, AND TO HELP FELLOW OFFENDERS WITH INCREASED UNDERSTANDING. MUSIC ACCOMPANIES THE PRESENTATION.