Serious Reading
I plan to follow up later on this page with letters I have received from various inmates during my four-year tenure as a State Representative, describing conditions and practices I feel that the public should know about.
Desert Pawns, (2010) by Bob Kaplan, MD, and Gerard LeMoine
This book asks the question, "Who would you rather have released from prison -- an unskilled violent predator or a stable, educated ex-offender with a future?"
It relates the experiences of an ex-cop-turned-teacher and his work in private prisons (not named) in the southwestern United States. The success of his efforts at rehabilitating inmates upset the administration because it challenged the stereotypes upon which the system was based. The teacher proved that many inmates were responsive to genuine help. Once they learned that the teacher really cared, and once they were shown the value of using their time wisely to prepare for re-entry into society, they thirsted for knowledge and struggled to overcome their self-defeating behavior patterns.
Unfortunately, the teacher’s efforts were met with resistance by the prison administration, even sabotage, in order to preserve a lucrative business plan that is dependent upon recidivism and long sentences.
Sunbelt Justice: Arizona and the Transformation of American Punishment, (2010) by Mona Lynch.
The author is an Associate Professor in the Criminology, Law & Soc Department at the University of California, Irvine.
This book is not an easy read. However, it chronicles the history of the Arizona Department of Corrections and it
Ms. Lynch focuses on the political challenges and budgetary restraints that have led Arizona to be among the most "flagrant" (her word) incarcerators in the world. There is an in-depth evaluation of the personalities that have led the prison system, and the impact they have had on Arizona criminal justice.
The Slumber Party from Hell, (2010) by Sue Ellen Allen
When I first met the author, we were attending a workshop on educational reform. She impressed me as an articulate, competent individual. Surprised to learn that she was released from prison only seven weeks previously, I had many questions about her experiences. She answered many of those questions with her book.
I am quoted on its back cover: "If you've ever wondered what it's like to be in prison, this book is about as close to having the experience as you can get without being there. Sue Ellen relates the lessons she learned about life from her prison experience. Her story is told without bitterness, self-justification, or rancor. In addition, it makes a statement about the sterile and harsh environment in which we incarcerate our fellow citizens. Truly, this memoir is a beginning point for a conversation about the purposes of our corrections systems and a must-read for anyone who makes laws, defends the laws, or pays taxes to support the system. Sue Ellen's personal story is an inspirational eye-opener for us all."
So You're Going to Prison; What to Expect!
How to Survive! (2010) by
R.E. Bondon
The author is a former law enforcement officer, correctional counselor in a maximum-security prison, parole officer and assistant office supervisor. He also has a Masters degree in criminal justice. For anyone to sentenced to prison or who has a family member sentenced to prison, particularly men's prisons, this book is a must read to prepare one for the challenges of incarceration. Mr. Bondon points out that "Many times it is not the meanest and worst that suffer most in prison but rather the uninformed, the naive, the first timer who can be easily conned and victimized."
Accidental Felons, (2009) by Daniel Horne
This is the story of the author's experience upon his arrest and conviction for DUI. As a first time offender with an unusual medical condition, Mr. Horne survived an extended incarceration in the famous "Tent City" of Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He recounts his experiences going through the Arizona Criminal Justice System, the inequities he perceived, and the lack of humanitarian treatment, even for those suffering serious medical conditions.
