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Convict Criminology In the United States there is a tendency to reduce human life to numbers, and base social policy on statistical analyses. The problem with this approach is that it can undermine important historical lessons, and, as Charles M. Terry points out, strength is gained by recollecting the past. Convict Criminology presents a strong historical lesson on our failure to understand the real-life situations of a large segment of our population-the incarcerated. This failure may explain why we have grown comfortable with practice of demonizing and warehousing so many members of our society. Yet, as suggested in Convict Criminology there is probably less than six degrees of separation between those of us who have not been detected by the criminal justice system and warehoused for our deviant acts and those of us who have. Unlike most empathetic commentators on the state of corrections in the United States, the collective writings contained in Convict Criminology convey a commitment to bringing about needed change within our correctional system in the short run; and improvement within our society in the long run. The commitment to social change conveyed in the book may seem ironic, given the fact that most of the writers are ex-cons who have experienced the brutality of our attempts to "correct" deviant behavior. What these writers demonstrate, however, is that kindness, compassion, and validation are, in fact, our strongest weapons against crime A unique "How-T0-Book": Surviving Prison There a lots of how to books out there but Behind Bars is something different. This book is assecessible to the general public and gives its readers, an inside perspective on prison. The language is clear and its points are made simply and directly. As an educator who has worked with "street kids," this book will be a useful tool at letting my students appreciate what it means to become ajudicated. Behind Bars is a "how to book" that you hope you will never need, or that your family or friends will ever need. But, on the other hand, maybe we do need to read this book so we get insight on this huge American industry. In order to be a well informed citizen I believe you should read this book. EX-CON PROFESSORS PROFESSORS-WITH-A-PAST: I've only met a one or two former offenders who were "criminologists" and it's hard for me to say how good they were in that role. My sense is that they are too "close" to what they are studying and that it is hard for them to remain objective. But I've also met a few "criminologists" who were not ex-offenders and who were not objective in their work. I suppose one's ability at one's job is dependent many factors, not just one's personal experiences. As I see it, this trend for hiring "Professors-With-a-Past" represents yet another travesty of post-modernism and the academy. I once participated on a panel at the American Society of Criminology where a panel member declared he would never be associated with these "academic" institutions that constitute "cop shops." His entire focus was against "Ex-Cops" and other former-law-enforcement Professor's filling their lectures with "war stories." There is now a marked trend by many criminal justice departments to realign their designation as "Department of Criminology;" "Department of Law and Society;" or to, either return/retain embodiment within a university Department of sociology or Social Work or other department umbrellas. I tend to see much of this "Ex-Con Professors" article as "partisan pleading" and the "endless excuse." It is ironic that at a time when we will not hire people with a professional law enforcement background in criminal justice that these individuals are being lionized. The very fact that the Northern Kentucky University's Ex-Con Professor must open his lecture with warning that he will be using profane language hints at the same specious staging of these course. I would love to see the syllabi being produced by these people. Yes, ex-offenders, as consumer of the product, may bring keen insights into the academy, especially thru research in institutional racism, institutional violence - gang's behind bars, prison rape, extortion. Prisons, reporting to the executive branch of government at the Federal, State, and Local level represent the most politicized element of the CJS, they are constantly prey to the respective policy mandates of an administration. Solid and balanced insights from ex-offender scholars regarding the "Politics of Punishment" are wanted and needed. I agree with the closing admonishments to the Ex-Con Professors regarding "serious research." We do not need emblazoned ex-offender "war stories"...we need viable research in solving the dilemmas of recidivism and contributing to successful reintegration strategies. Jess Maghan Chester, CT April 2004 CONVICT CRIMINOLOGY REVIEW 101 RICHARDS AND ROSS EDIT A FASCINATING WORK ON THE LIVES AND OBSERVATIONS OF VARIOUS SCHOLARS WITH DIRECT EXPERIENCE IN THE PENAL SYSTEM. THIS EASILY DIGESTIBLE BOOK SERVES AS AN EXCELLENT REFERENCE WORK ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF CRIMINOLGY, AND IS RECOMMENDED BOTH GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. THE BOOK FEATURES 9 CHAPTERS BY EX-COVICTS THAT ARE NOW PROFESSORS OF SOCIOLOGY, CRIMINOLOGY, OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE. CONVICT CRIMINOLOGY IS A SPECIAL BOOK CONVICT CRIMINOLOGY IS AN EDITED BOOK THAT FEATURES SOME OF THE BEST KNOWN ACADEMIC SCHOLARS IN THE FIELD. I especially enjoyed the chapters written by the ex-convict professors. They are the real experts on crime and corrections. The reading is cutting edge, state-of-the art, a new paradigm in criminology. This book will blow the cob webs off the walls of the ivory tower. This is a new criminology! See also:
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