NCJ Number
58353
Date Published
1979
Length
192 pages
Annotation
THE STORY OF WOMEN IN THE INDIANA WOMEN'S PRISON, AS OSBERVED BY THE CONSULTING PRISON PSYCHOLOGIST, IS PRESENTED; THEIR LIVES, FEELINGS, MOTIVATIONS, AND ATTITUDES ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THE TEXT IS TO GIVE A REALISTIC AND HUMAN UNDERSTANDING OF ONE PARTICULAR WOMEN'S PRISON FROM 1970 TO 1975, SHOWING THAT ALL BEHAVIOR HAS MEANING, AND THAT EACH INMATE HAS A UNIQUE POINT OF VIEW AND EXPLANATION FOR HER SPECIFIC BEHAVIOR. ALTHOUGH CRIMINAL ACTIONS ARE NOT JUSTIFIED FROM A MORAL OR LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, THEY ARE USDERSTANDABLE CONSIDERING THE INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONAL VALUES, BACKGROUND EXPERIENCES, AND UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES. PRISON LIFE IS DETAILED, WITH THE MAJOR THRUST OF THE TEXT DEPICTING SELECTED INMATES' PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND ATTITUDES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING A PRISONER'S ARREST AND CONVICTION FOR A CRIME SHE DID NOT COMMIT, AND HER SUBSEQUENT SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONNMENT FOR ASSAULT AND BATTERY ARE PRESENTED. SIMILARLY, THE BACKGROUNDS OF THE PRISONER WHO NEEDS REHABILITATION AND IS NOT RECEIVING IT AND THE PRISONER WHO WANTS TO DIE ARE DISCUSSED USING EACH INMATES OWN WORDS TO DESCRIBE HER FEELINGS. THE WORK IS DIRECTED TOWARD ANYONE WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM UNDERSTANDING LIFE IN PRISON AS IT EXISTS FOR THE INMATES. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)