Customer Reviews

The Devil's Butcher Shop: The New Mexico Prison Uprising

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is an excellent description of the worst prison riot in U.S. penal history. Morris provides insightful and needed history leading up to the 1980 riot (something other reviewers oddly thought wasn't necessary). Contrary to the other reviewer's opinion, Morris' book doesn't read like a bunch of newspaper clippings, but like a montage of voices that bring to light the complexity of the riot and new mexico politics. This book is in no way misdirected like another reviewer thinks, but instead it provides an accurate picture of the nepotism and corruption pervasive not only in the New Mexico penal system but throughout the state (general political corruption and neglect DID lead to the riot). As for the writing, it is clear, well-researched, and definitely not boring. If you're only interested in the bloody details of the riot (as the reviewer from Telford, Penn. seems to be), then only read chapter 3: Carnage. But if you want a clear picture of the riot itself and the specific circumstances that made the riot possible (both within the prison and within New Mexico politics at large), then the Devil's Butcher Shop is the only choice.

Great book for those interested in such things. I was a corrections officer in this facility years after the riot. But knew officers and inmates who were present during that incident. The book follows the event very accurately. Good read.

I read this from start to finish without stopping. One could hardly imagine the pent up rage that could have fueled such a disturbing massacre. The book follows the riot from the months leading up to, during and right through to the political fallout and the resulting ramifications it had on the American prison system. The author suceeds in sticking to the fact, and, when facts are missing, fills in the blanks with speculation derived from the surrounding circumstances. a great read.

Several of us have read it and enjoyed it. I studied it at the Ca Corrctions academy and still see some of the problems that existed then, exist now. I worked at a complex in Az as a counselor and some of the same officer carelessness exists now. No lessons in history I guess..

The cover has changed, by the way and is actually visually pleasing, not something you should get used to with this book, except where it talks of the dances held at each of the prisons prior to filling the prison with inmates.

The book is very well written, it very accurately describes what happened there, but it's awful because of what happened. I know it's supposed to make you think that the state of the prison and the corruption caused those men to do the most inexcusable things, but that's exactly what that level of barbarism is to me. Inexcusable. One prison official called them animals but I ask you, what animal can you think of that would do such senseless things that are gruesome far beyond any normal experience?

I don't know what excuses they think will cover that, but once you read this book, you might agree that for the prisoners who committed the butchery, rancid turkey on thanksgiving is not an excuse and far too good for them!

I don't care who is ready to say that I'm beastly for seeing such or wishes to make excuses, but nepotism did not have anything to do with the dog-boy, did it? Thank You.

this book was very intersting and scary i work in the penal system and the inmates tell me stories but not like this!!!!!

this book was very intersting and scary i work in the penal system and the inmates tell me stories but not like this!!!!!

I just had to write this comment to Kelly J. Barnett "black_magic_7". How could have read the WHOLE book and not known that NEW Mexico is part of the United States. Not MEXICO. We are that big empty space between Arizona and Texas.

Very good book some boring stuff and the riot part was good and gruesome. Makes me proud to live in NM.

"The Devil's Butcher Shop" by Roger Morris seems less a description of the Santa Fe prison uprising than an indictment of New Mexico's prison system. While the author writes solid,factual accounts of inexcusable corruption within New Mexico's corrections department,he dwells on it so long the reader tends to forget there ever was a riot.