20 Best Books For Prisoners (2023 Update)

"a compelling, important addition to hill harper's bestselling series, inspired by the numerous young inmates who write to him seeking guidance after the publication of the bestselling letters to a young brother, accomplished actor and speaker hill harper began to receive an increasing number of moving letters from inmates who yearned for a connection with a successful role model. with disturbing statistics on african-american incarceration on his mind (one in six black men were incarcerated as of 2001, and one in three can now expect to go to prison some time in their lifetimes), harper set out to address the specific needs of inmates. a powerful message from the heart, letters to an incarcerated brother provides advice and inspiration in the face of despair along with encouraging words for restoring a sense of self-worth. as the founder of manifest your destiny, a nonprofit outreach program for at-risk teens, harper has seen firsthand the transformative effect of mentorship and the power of a positive role model. this latest addition to hill harper's letters series delivers visionary, compassionate responses to the real-life circumstances of inmates. as with the other letters books, harper includes moving contributions from top educators, activists, thought leaders, and entertainers. uplifting and insightful, letters to an incarcerated brother provides the hope and inspiration inmates and their families need"–

There are more people incarcerated in the world today than at any other time in history. every year millions of prisoners are released back into society after having completed their sentences, with the majority of them returning to prison within just a short time after their release. the dedicated ex-prisoner's guide to life and success on the outside is a 10-rule guidebook for the ex-prisoner who is determined to be successful once released and offers invaluable information on how to overcome the odds of returning to prison. if followed, the advice and suggestions offered in this guide will prove very helpful to all ex-prisoners who are serious about getting out of prison and not ever going back.

Product type: categories > humour & entertainment > puzzles & games > logic & brain teasers

"the true stories i've written in this book are my living nightmares. my greatest hope is that the lessons the stories offer will help you make better choices than i did." stanley "tookie" williams, cofounder of the notorious crips gang, is a death-row inmate. but in his two decades of incarceration, williams has also become a respected author and activist whose dedication to ending gang warfare in the lives of inner-city children has earned him a 2001 nobel peace prize nomination. in this award-winning bookwhich has drawn praise from educators, government leaders, and families alikewilliams describes the brutal reality of being an inmate. he debunks myths of prisons as "gladiator schools" with blunt, riveting stories of overwhelming homesickness, the terror of solitary confinement, and the humiliation of strip-searches. williams' words are a frank challenge to adolescent readers to educate themselves, make intelligent decisions, and above all, not to follow in his footsteps.

A counterpunch best book of the yeara lone star policy institute recommended book“if you care, as i do, about disrupting the perverse politics of criminal justice, there is no better place to start than prisoners of politics.”—james forman, jr., author of locking up our ownthe united states has the highest rate of incarceration in the world. the social consequences of this fact—recycling people who commit crimes through an overwhelmed system and creating a growing class of permanently criminalized citizens—are devastating. a groundbreaking work that is transforming our national conversation on crime and punishment, prisoners of politics shows how problematic it is to base criminal justice policy on the whims of the electorate and argues for an overdue shift that could upend our prison problem and make america a more equitable society.“ a critically important exploration of the political dynamics that have made us one of the most punitive societies in human history.

Tony vick is serving two life sentences for murder. after nearly twenty years in prison, tony has literally taken to the pen to document firsthand what life is like behind bars. this book–handwritten by tony and later transcribed by outside friends–indirectly challenges the reader to engage prison reform as one of the most important social issues of this generation, wondering if society can shift its emphasis from retribution to rehabilitation. tony's new book describes the violent, even horrific, incidents that occur in prison, incidents mostly hidden in the shadows, away from public awareness. it tells you the stories that those invested in incarceration would rather remain secret. as captivating as it is timely, secrets from a prison cell shortens the distance between those outside and inside prison walls. through personal stories, essays, and poetry, tony vick's book pulls back the curtain on a world invisible to most people, dramatically revealing the realities of life in prison and the power of love to fight dehumanization. ""the power of secrets from a prison cell is that it unflinchingly looks the reader directly in the eye, makes no claim of innocence or excuses for crime, and demonstrates that accountability and forgiveness are mutually enforcing, not in contradiction as our current failed system would have us believe. tony vick has given us the gift of discomfort. two millennia ago john of patmos pulled back the veil and exposed rome's monstrous essence. seven decades ago, elie wiesel's revelations of the concentration camps unmasked the sadistic bloodlust of the nazi's reign. in this tradition tony vick's expose of the prison-industrial complex divulges the concealed character of the american empire. like john's and elie's revelations, tony's call is neither for despair nor pity. no, here is a summons to action. read this book and you must join the resistance."" –richard c. goode, lipscomb university ""2.2 million people are in u.s. prisons and jails, with millions more on probation and parole, but such statistics about our ever-expanding carceral society tend to prove powerless at touching hearts or even minds. morrill, professor, vanderbilt divinity school tony d. vick is a tennessean, currently serving two life sentences for murder in the tennessee department of corrections. mcray is a writer, advocate, educator, speaker, and the author of where the river bends (2015). he is a former volunteer prison chaplain and close friends with tony vick.

From inmate to bossthis book is a must for all readers. no matter if you are physically or mentally incarcerated, you are still an inmate to something or someone blocking you from reaching your full potential. in these pages you'll discover the formula to getting out of your own way and letting no one or anything stop you from unleashing your true desires.for the incarcerated, it is extremely hard to get ideas off the ground. not only are the incarcerated at a disadvantage; being in prison can be a gloomy place where you are depressed. whoever you are and wherever you're at, either physically incarcerated by being in prison or mentally incarcerated by allowing some other forces to block your potential, this book will help you to achieve your desired goals.within the pages of this book are the necessary steps to take for the greatest success. many may say, what is the difference from this motivational book and the rest that are out there on the market? well, this book acknowledges the incarcerated mindset for numerous individuals, no matter whatever the dilemma is. when you are willing to set a few goals and stick to them, from inmate to boss shows you how to make your goals come to fruition; how to master the necessary steps to achieving your desires; and how not to get in your own way and allow others to block your path for success. you will see how the author went from concept to networking; to earning money; to running a business while physically incarcerated. lastly, you will learn how to capitalize on your own greatest talents.

Jailed for a jokeit isn't easy going to jail for a practical joke. of course, this particular joke left 20 cars wrecked on the highway and two politicians' careers in tatters – so jail is where harold künt landed. now he's just trying to keep a low profile in the big house. he wants no part of his fellow inmates' plan to use an escape tunnel to rob two banks. but it's too late; he's in it up to his neck. and that neck may just wind up in a noose… westlake at his funniest and his most ingenious, a rediscovered crime classic from the mwa grand master returning to stores for the first time in three decades.

For us in prison concisely explains why prisoners often fail to make good use of their time in prison; more importantly though, the text is focused on providing solutions that can be applied by virtually any incarcerated person. the solutions emphasize being responsible for one's time, being positive, and being community oriented.

What came to lori's mind after writing many letters to her son in prison; yes!" she said prison. " lori didn't expect her child who was diagnosed with adhd at a young age to leave the world she brought him into to go to prison at age 18. lori went looking for self-help books and there weren't any. what really helped lori were the letters, prayers and cards. they are what kept her going. for all the families and parents who have lost a loved one to the prison system, this will give you understanding on what those experiencing this feel. lori carroll creasy was born in covington kentucky. after high school, lori and her family relocated to bradenton, florida. shortly thereafter, they moved to sarasota, florida. some years after lori's first marriage living as a divorced/single parent, lori met and married john creasy. they have three lovely children; two boys and a daughter. now within the last eight years, there family tree has grown to six grandchildren who bring them much joy and laughter. sarasota county school district has been lori's place of employment for 29 years. here her love for early childhood development deepened to an overwhelming desire of nurturing and care not just for young children but also their parents. lori's real bio is the love between the two, her family and her work.

Prisoners and their families will appreciate these heartfelt and supportive stories and will feel part of a wider community of people striving to improve and reach their personal best.

This curriculum was designed to: – challenge incarcerated men to tap into their hidden potential as leaders. – provide a practical framework for the role of an incarcerated father. – redefine the essence of masculinity while challenging the "myth of prison manhood." – give incarcerated men spiritual direction as it relates to suffering. – explore the concept of biblical forgiveness and mans need for mercy. – identify anger as a god given emotion and explore healthy ways to prevent anger from becoming vindictive and destructive. – examine the dynamics of victimization, grief, and empathy from an offender's perspective. – use biblical principles to explore the social challenges that incarcerated men face as they transition back into society. the multicultural society of prison can sometimes wear many faces; however, society seems to only recognize one of them. while prison is a place of overt rules and policies, the desire to want more out of life lies at the heart of every man. "finding higher ground" is written from the familiar back drop of prison by one of its own. it offers a very unique viewpoint regarding the spiritual struggles and ambitions of incarcerated men, as well as their desire for healing and redemption. about the author keith j. morse is a formerly incarcerated individual who was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in 1994, and served 27 years at louisiana state penitentiary, angola. he was granted a pardon by the governor of louisiana in august of 2020 and was released in december of that same year. on his road to redemption keith earned a bachelor's degree in christian ministry, with a minor in pastoral care from the new orleans baptist theological seminary. keith is the co-founder of the b.e.l.o.v.e.d. community for restorative justice (bridge to enhance the lives of victims and offenders through education and dialogue). keith is a certified mediator and restorative justice practitioner and he's extremely passionate about the peace keeping movement. keith works tirelessly on the side of several reform groups in louisiana and desperately desires to be an agent of change within his community.

Survive. at any cost. ten concentration camps. ten different places where you are starved, tortured, and worked mercilessly. it's something no one could imagine surviving. but it is what yanek gruener has to face. as a jewish boy in 1930s poland, yanek is at the mercy of the nazis who have taken over. everything he has and everyone he loves have been snatched brutally from him. and then yanek himself is taken prisoner – his arm marked b-3087. he is forced from one nightmarish concentration camp to another, as world war ii rages all around him. he encounters evil he could never have imagined, but also sees surprising glimpses of home amid the horror. can yanek make it through without losing his will to live – and, most of all, his sense of who he really is inside?

Over 170,000 copies sold! restorative justice argues that crime destroys people and relationships. justice, then, must repair and rebuild people and relationships. this is true for men and women that are incarcerated as it is for victims. – the more than 2.3 million incarcerated individuals in the united states are often regarded as a throw-away population. while the criminal-justice system focuses on giving offenders "what they deserve," it does little to restore the needs created by crime or to explore the factors that lead to it. restorative justice, with its emphasis on identifying the justice needs of everyone involved in a crime, is helping to restore prisoners' sense of humanity while holding them accountable for their actions. – in this book, barb toews, with years of experience in prison work, shows how people in prison can live restorative-justice principles. she shows how these practices can change prison culture and society. chapters include;crime and criminal justice – reconnecting community – reconnecting individuals – reconnecting victims and their communities of care – reconnecting offenders – reconnecting offenders’ families – written for readers who are incarcerated, and for all those who work with people in prison, this book also clearly outlines the experiences and needs of this under-represented and often overlooked part of our society.

Shy will, the author, and editor is a man arrested at the age of 17 and charged as an adult. he maneuvered his way through the prison system educating himself and others. shy has completed various vocational and educational programs offered at the prison and also tutored g.e.d. classes. 10 years into fighting his conviction of attempted murder as a pro-se litigant, this book is yet another accomplishment and notch under this young, critical thinking author's belt. this treatise provides in-depth, proven, insider knowledge and insight on "how to do time in prison" successfully and leave in a better state mentally and physically. it's real, it's reformative, it's reliable!

An easy-to-read prison survival guide of do's and don'ts. perfect for anyone facing trial for an offence that may lead to imprisonment, their families and friends. packed with humour as well as more serious items. backed by prisoner support organizations. straightforward and highly entertaining. frankie started writing the lbp from day two of entering prison as a first-time offender. he had no idea how the system or a prison worked. he was clueless about it all and it was hard for him going in and frightening for the family and loved ones he left behind. the writing began as self-help and as the days progressed it occurred to frankie that the lbp would prove useful to first-time offenders as well as other prisoners and help them get through what is surely one of the most difficult times in their lives. it also motivated him to get out on the prison wing and find out as much as possible about his new home. there are a lot of books about people in prison, people in far worse places than frankie was and on far longer sentences. but the lbp is a book about prison not people, and will help new inmates, their friends and families get to know what to expect from the system. the lbp is a masterpiece in comic writing but somehow gets through to people with serious information in a way that more formal texts cannot. already organizations connected to the criminal justice system are beginning to acknowledge that frankie owen's lbp is an ideal read for people facing the trauma of a first prison sentence. it will also be of considerable interest to other prisoners or people working in a custodial setting. "if people want to know what prison is like it's for them, if people need to know what happens in prison it's definitely for them". 'by the end of the book, i felt like frankie owens was my cell-mate. his style and execution is either perversely skilful or an absolute fluke, but whatever it is, it is certainly good': prison service journal. 'absolutely hilarious, i'm not sure it'll ever be standard prison issue but maybe it should be! packed full of witty and wry observations and some extremely pertinent advice. it is well-structured, easy to read and informative. i hope he continues writing as the little book of prison is something that the general public would love to read as well as a guide book for other prisoners': koestler award judges 'funny and educational, in a tongue in cheek kind of way, and has a much wider appeal than you might think': thebookbag.co.uk frankie owens was prisoner a1443ca at her majesty's pleasure until 2 august 2011. if he had been given the information gathered in lbp, he thinks that the first weeks inside would have been better and the learning curve not as steep.

This is an electronic version of a printed book (download only) downloaded copy on your device does not expire. harpercollins release date january 22, 2019 imprint anthony bourdain ecco isbn 9780062691590 language english download options epub 3 (adobe drm) the inspiration for the new podcast featuring jason rezaian. 544 days is a spotify original podcast, produced by gimlet, crooked media and a24. the dramatic memoir of the journalist who was held hostage in a high security prison in tehran for eighteen months and whose release which almost didn t happen became a part of the iran nuclear deal in july 2014, washington post tehran bureau chief jason rezaian was arrested by iranian police, accused of spying for america. the charges were absurd. rezaian s reporting was a mix of human interest stories and political analysis. he had even served as a guide for anthony bourdain s parts unknown. initially, rezaian thought the whole thing was a terrible misunderstanding, but soon realized that it was much more dire as it became an eighteen month prison stint with impossibly high diplomatic stakes.

This is an electronic version of a printed book (download only) downloaded copy on your device does not expire. harpercollins release date january 22, 2019 imprint anthony bourdain ecco isbn 9780062691590 language english download options epub 3 (adobe drm) the inspiration for the new podcast featuring jason rezaian. 544 days is a spotify original podcast, produced by gimlet, crooked media and a24. the dramatic memoir of the journalist who was held hostage in a high security prison in tehran for eighteen months and whose release which almost didn t happen became a part of the iran nuclear deal in july 2014, washington post tehran bureau chief jason rezaian was arrested by iranian police, accused of spying for america. the charges were absurd. rezaian s reporting was a mix of human interest stories and political analysis. he had even served as a guide for anthony bourdain s parts unknown. initially, rezaian thought the whole thing was a terrible misunderstanding, but soon realized that it was much more dire as it became an eighteen month prison stint with impossibly high diplomatic stakes.

Nineteen years ago, erwin james was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. he was in his twenties. over the past three years, he has written powerfully about prison life for the guardian. james recalls the moment the verdict was announced and his subsequent arrival in prison as a lifer. he writes with honesty and great lucidity about learning the who, what, why and when of the prison world; about the relationships that develop between men forced into long years of co-existence; and about how in the depths of the system he discovered self-worth through education and a talent for writing. a life inside is the story of a journey from vicious youth to reformed middle age. it does not glorify crime, nor does it seek to make excuses for its author's past. but james's account of his incarcerated life is a dramatic human story that no reader will readily forget.

When the author was sent to prison for a ten-year-old crime, she barely resembled the reckless young woman she had been when she committed the misdeeds that would eventually catch up with her. happily ensconced in a new york city apartment, with a promising career and an attentive boyfriend, she was suddenly forced to reckon with the consequences of her very brief, very careless dalliance in the world of drug trafficking. she spent thirteen months in prison, eleven of them at the infamous federal correctional facility in danbury, connecticut, where she met a surprising and varied community of women living under exceptional circumstances. she meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. here she tells the story of those long months locked up in a place with its own codes of behavior and arbitrary hierarchies, where a practical joke is as common as an unprovoked fight, and where the uneasy relationship between prisoner and jailer is constantly and unpredictably recalibrated.