About Prison

by Santos, Michael G.

• ISBN13: 9780534623555
• ISBN10: 0534623557
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-04
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

In this unique and extraordinary book, Michael G. Santos helps others learn about the abnormal way of life behind the walls and fences of prisons. To provide readers with a more complete and realistic picture of the growing subculture that exists in prison, the author provides both his own experiences and observations of living as a prisoner, as well as dialogues, vignettes, and profiles of other prisoners and workers within the prison environment. This book addresses the unprecedented growth in the prison system over the past two decades, and asks future correctional professionals to critically examine the current prison system.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD	VII
INTRODUCTION	XI
PREFACE	XIII
1 ENTRY INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM	1	(34)
Beginnings	1	(1)
My Leap into Crime	2	(2)
Arrest	4	(3)
MCC Miami	7	(5)
Going to Court	12	(4)
Questions, Questions	16	(4)
The Rule of Law	20	(5)
Home to Seattle	25	(6)
Pierce County Jail	31	(2)
Conclusion	33	(2)
2 AFTER CONVICTION	35	(18)
The Trial	35	(4)
After the Trial	39	(7)
The Sentencing	46	(3)
After Sentencing	49	(3)
Conclusion	52	(1)
3 FROM THE PIERCE COUNTY JAIL TO THE UNITED STATES PENITENTIARY IN ATLANTA	53	(23)
The Transfer	54	(3)
FCI El Reno	57	(12)
Next Stop: FCI Talladega	69	(5)
USP Atlanta	74	(1)
Conclusion	75	(1)
4 USP ATLANTA: FIRST ENCOUNTERS	76	(22)
Arrival at USP Atlanta	76	(1)
A-Cellhouse	77	(11)
B-Cellhouse	88	(3)
Predators in the Penitentiary	91	(2)
Sexual Predators	93	(4)
Conclusion	97	(1)
5 PRISON SOCIETY	98	(21)
Prison Subculture	98	(1)
The Values of the Prison Subculture	99	(5)
The Prison Economy	104	(6)
Problem Activities in the Penitentiary	110	(8)
Conclusion	118	(1)
6 MANAGING CHAOS	119	(24)
Idleness and Accountability	119	(5)
Work Program	124	(10)
Prisoner-Staff Relationships	134	(3)
Programs	137	(4)
My Move Out of Atlanta	141	(1)
Conclusion	142	(1)
7 FCI McKEAN: A NEW EXPERIENCE	143	(19)
How I Got to McKean	143	(4)
FCI McKean	147	(4)
The Mentors Program	151	(4)
"Earning Freedom"	155	(5)
Luther's Final Days at FCI McKean	160	(1)
Warden Meko's First Visit	160	(1)
Conclusion	161	(1)
8 A PRISON DISTURBANCE AT McKEAN	162	(17)
The New Warden	162	(1)
The Crack Cocaine Issue	163	(8)
The New McKean	171	(3)
The Transfer	174	(3)
Fairton	177	(1)
Conclusion	178	(1)
9 FORT DIX: LOW-SECURITY LIVING	179	(24)
Getting Used to Dix	179	(2)
Categorizing the Prisoners at Fort Dix	181	(20)
Conclusion	201	(2)
10 CHOOSING TO SURVIVE	203	(10)
The Cost of Bad Decisions	203	(1)
Earning Freedom	204	(6)
PrisonerLife.com	210	(1)
Atonement	211	(1)
Conclusion	212	(1)
11 A PRISONER'S SUGGESTIONS	213
The Goals of Incarceration	213	(5)
What Is a Successful Prison System?	218	(5)
Conclusion: How Can I Help?	223