Behind Prison Walls: The Real World of Working in Today's Prisons [Paperback]

Tom Martin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1581603916 | ISBN-13: 978-1581603910 | Publication Date: March 1, 2003

If you want to know what today's murderers, gangbangers and street predators are really like, take a step behind prison walls. A veteran prison guard reveals the truth behind staff rivalries, incarcerated killers, old-time cons, racial tension, inmate threats and ingenuity, and the darker sides of prisoner behavior.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tom Martin is a correctional professional working for the Washington State Department of Corrections. After having served in the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army, in 1993 he decided to apply for a job as a prison correctional officer and has worked in a field he finds fascinating and challenging ever since. He has worked with both male and female offenders, and he teaches courses on Offender Manipulation, New Officer Training, and Incident Report Writing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581603916
• ISBN-13: 978-1581603910
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #366,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good insider's guide, June 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Behind Prison Walls: The Real World of Working in Today's Prisons (Paperback)

This book is very well written. It opened up my eyes
to the different types of prisoners. I also thought
that it was amazingly frank about the behaviors and motivations
of corrections officers. This is the first book in
this genre that I have ever read. It was interesting
and entertaining. I would highly recommend this book.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lacking in Depth, May 2, 2008

By 

J. R. Hansen "Farm Boy" (Lincoln Nebraska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Behind Prison Walls: The Real World of Working in Today's Prisons (Paperback)

This is a good primer book for those uninitiated to the prison workplace, but having spent over 25 years in Corrections I found it lacking in depth and critical content and a bit egotistically idealized by the author. He apparently never had to face ethical questions or moral dilemmas in his experience, either that or he chose to omit those aspects. I would have been more interested if he had delved more into the politics and bureacratical intrigue of correctional work, which have a much greater impact on the careers of correctional employees. Still, it would be unfair to dismiss this work as without merit, but it is incomplete, only scratching the surface of being on the inside.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for anyone working in Corrections, November 18, 2007

By 

Female C/O "Amy" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behind Prison Walls: The Real World of Working in Today's Prisons (Paperback)

I have just started working in a state prision and so far everything I have encountered was written in this book. The inmates, and the Corrections staff, it was all like I was reliving all what I have learned and encountered just the year I have worked. Before going into this work please read this book, it is not an easy career for everyone. I have learned that I have what it takes to become a career Corrections Officer, although, being a female it is not easy, not only for me, but for my family members, they have no idea what 8 hours a day is like, behind these Prison Walls.