NCJ Number
177103
Date Published
1997
Length
192 pages
Annotation
This book presents the personal stories of life in prison for 21 inmates.
Abstract
The men ranged in age from 19 to 51. Eight were convicted of murder, eight of robbery, and two of dealing drugs; three never discussed their crimes. The inmates talk about how prison life has affected them. They experience it as dehumanizing, brutalizing, and intentionally punitive. Based on the inmates' experiences, the author, a former teacher in the prison, concludes that the prison exists to inflict "fierce punishment" and "vicious treatment" for people who may have committed an offense. The inmates consist largely of the urban poor sent to prison through a plea bargain and a criminal justice system that does not have the resources nor the will to ensure a competent defense for those who cannot afford a private attorney. The author identifies the needs of the 21 inmates that are not being met by the corrections system. The author questions the punitive philosophy of prison, since the inmates will return to society someday. If they have learned only brutality, oppression, and confinement, they are only prepared to act violently and deviantly when they return to free society. The author advises, "If our society cannot soon discover another approach we will find ourselves in a revolution." A 16-item selected bibliography, chapter notes, and a subject index