Decades Behind Bars

May 1, 2017
Retired sociology professor Holman covers her time spent over the course of two decades at a men's prison in Kentucky. She shares the stories of inmates serving various sentences, including life, and sheds light on the current challenges of the prison system in America. How and why are prisons expanding? How do prisons affect state budgets and their communities at large? Holman recommends considering certain reforms to remedy the current economic and social disarray of U.S. prisons. The book's main highlights are Holman's interactions with prisoners, correctional officers, chaplains, administrators, and others. Some conversations are deeply personal, covering marriage and death in prison. Holman also addresses the long-term consequences of extended incarceration. A list of thoughtful questions for discussion and reflection follows each chapter. A candid, engaging, and fascinating read for those interested in criminal justice, criminology, and prison reform.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)