Synopsis
This unique book provides accurate descriptions of prisons and prison life, written by a prisoner sentenced to life, who uses the pseudonym "K. C. Carceral" to hide his identity for protection. With the assistance of editors Thomas Bernard, Leanne F. Alarid, Bruce Bikle, and Alene Bikle, this book presents a gripping, and often graphic, portrayal of life in prison. This narrative presentation of such topics as prison violence, friendships, sexual mores, and serving time includes graphic language and situations. Through the powerful personal experiences of the author, readers are better equipped to develop informed opinions about the American prison system. Inspired to write about his experiences in prison, Carceral sought the help of noted academics, including Thomas Bernard, to create a powerful and informative narrative. This is the first textbook written by a life-sentenced inmate. Bernard, along with editors Leanne F. Alarid, Bruce Bikle and Alene Bikle developed the manuscript to ensure its suitability for classroom use in colleges and universities. The wide range of topics covered includes entrance into prison; prison life, including violence in prisons; dealing with time; prison politics and economics; sex, racism, retaliation, and gangs.
About the Authors
K. C. Carceral is an inmate in prison serving a life sentence.
Thomas J. Bernard is professor of Crime, Law and Justice at Pennsylvania State University. His work has focused primarily on criminology and criminal justice theory and on juvenile justice.
Leanne Fiftal Alarid is Professor and Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Texas at El Paso. She double majored in Psychology and Sociology with a B.A. from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked in Denver as a counselor in a girls group home and then as a case manager at an adult halfway house before returning to school to earn an M.A. and Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University. She was on the faculty at the University of Missouri-Kansas City from 1996-2006, and at the University of Texas at San Antonio from 2006-2013. Her research areas are post-conviction offender behavior, mental illness and justice-involved offenders, and correctional policy. She has also partnered with a number of criminal justice agencies as a researcher, consultant, and program evaluator. Dr. Alarid has authored more than 60 journal articles and book chapters, and authored or edited eight books. She received the Fellow Award by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in 2011 for outstanding contributions to criminal justice education and service.
Bruce Bikle Ph.D. (Public Administration and Policy, Portland State University) comes to his current position at the California State University Sacramento after a career in law enforcement and corrections in Hawaii, California, Oregon and Washington. His interests include correctional policy, inmate programs, management of correctional programs and direct supervision jails.
Alene Bikle has a BA in journalism (University of Oregon, 1967). She has written for a variety of publications and has also coordinated public relations campaigns for local and statewide non-profit organizations. Her main interest lies in communicating "small" stories and tales about ordinary people to a broad audience, with the belief that by sharing and learning about others' lives, we find the links that lead to understanding and empathy.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
