NCJ Number
45082
Date Published
1978
Length
219 pages
Annotation
PERSONAL NARRATIVES OF THREE GENERATIONS OF AN ALABAMA FAMILY INVOLVED IN CORRECTIONS ILLUSTRATE THE EVOLUTION OF THE PRISON SYSTEM AND ATTITUDES OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS OVER A 45-YEAR PERIOD.
Abstract
OSCAR DEES BEGAN WORK IN THE ALABAMA PRISON SYSTEM AS A GUARD IN 1931 AND RETIRED AS A WARDEN IN 1969. HE DESCRIBED HIS WORK DURING THAT PERIOD, CONDITIONS IN THE PRISONS, AND INCIDENTS OF FIGHTS AND ESCAPES. MANY OF THE TYPES OF PUNISHMENT HE ADMINISTERED, SUCH AS THE STRAP AND THE 'DOGHOUSE' (A SMALL ROOM FOR SOLITARY CONFINEMENT), HAVE SINCE BEEN OUTLAWED. HE CONDUCTED MANY EXECUTIONS AND DESCRIBES THE PROCEDURE OF ELECTROCUTION. HE TALKS ABOUT HIS PHILOSOPHY ON REHABILITATION, HOW DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRISONERS SHOULD BE TREATED, AND ESPECIALLY HIS STRONG BELIEF IN DISCIPLINE AND SECURITY ABOVE ALL. FRED DEES, SR., OSCAR DEES' SON, WAS ROAD CAMP SUPERINTENDENT IN THE LATE 1950'S AND EARLY 1960'S. HIS NARRATIVE TOUCHES ON THE TYPICAL WORK AND CONDITIONS OF A ROAD CREW AND ON CHANGING ATTITUDES OF PRISONERS, GUARDS, AND JUDGES. WHEN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WAS BECOMING STRONG, HE STOOD TRIAL FOR WHIPPING A BLACK PRISONER. HE WAS ACQUITTED AND CONTINUED IN THE SYSTEM UNTIL HIS ROAD CAMP CLOSED. HIS SON, FRED DEES, JR., WORKS AS A PROBATION OFFICER IN A HALFWAY HOUSE IN MOBILE, ALABAMA. IN CONTRAST WITH HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, HE EXPRESSES A STRONG BELIEF IN THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS.