Indians in Prison: Incarcerated Native Americans in Nebraska [Hardcover]

Elizabeth S. Grobsmith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0803221371 | ISBN-13: 978-0803221376

Penologists, social services administra-tors, and students of criminal justice as well as of Indian studies will welcome this groundbreaking study, the product of close observation of and direct involvement on behalf of Indians in the Nebraska state penal system. Opening with a group profile, it discusses in detail the special concerns of that population: cultural and spiritual activities (Indians incarcerated in Nebraska were among the first to seek court permission to practice their religion behind bars), the seriously underestimated rates of alcoholism and drug addiction and the need for culturally appropriate treatment, and high rates of recidivism and their effect on parole. The final chapters present comparative data on Indians incarcerated in other states and offer recommendations for dealing with recurrent problems. Indians in Prison is particularly timely for its focus on how the social environments of Indian youth contribute to their delinquency and substance abuse and how Indians in prison perceive rehabilitation strategies, parole, and the law.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The subject of Indians in prison is of great importance not only because of the increasing Native American population in prisons (and the consequences for Indian life) but because that population is so disproportionately high. This first book-length study of the subject surveys the topic comparatively, incorporating detail based on firsthand ethnographic study and at the same time the hard data necessary to make it a definitive survey. Thus it is a major contribution to the field of American Indian studies."—Raymond J. DeMallie, Indiana University

(Raymond J. DeMallie )

About the Author

Elizabeth Grobsmith is a professor of anthropology and assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 215 pages
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press (February 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803221371
• ISBN-13: 978-0803221376
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #489,269 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Native Men vs. the Prison System, October 25, 2005

By 

Jeffery Mingo (Homewood, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Indians in Prison: Incarcerated Native Americans in Nebraska (Hardcover)

The author details the unique factors that affect Native American prisoners. She asks and answers why they are disproportionately incarcerated and have trouble obeying parole. She analyzes whether correctional facilities are allowing them to practice their religion as courts have demanded. I love a Native American man in jail and it was fascinating to have this book that discusses the issues that he and many others face.

This book says a lot about prison matters that affect inmates of all races. This would be a useful text for the loved ones of any inmate. As a non-Native man of color, I imagine that many people of color will relate to what is described here. Like Natives, Blacks and Latinos are also disproportionately represented in prison. Many Blacks and Latinos may feel uncomfortable in prison programs where they are the minority or their cultural concerns are not addressed. Many members of minority groups worry that the failure of one person may have a negative impact upon the entire community.

The book focuses on men because they are the grand majority of inmates, regardless of race. Still, the author mentions when rules or programs differ for female inmates. The book never addresses masculinity, or many of the concerns in men's studies, but this does not diminish from the text. Kansas was at the forefront of litigation for Native prisoners; this state was not selected just because that is where the author teaches. Though the area of inquiry is not the Dakotas, most of the subjects in this work are of the Lakota (which the author spells "Lakh'ota") Nation.

As a reader, it continually surprised me how different these Native Americans viewed the majority country and its culture. Yes, reservation life is supposed to have its own vibe and uniqueness. Still, all Natives were deemed American citizens in the 1930s. Native Americans speak English, watch American TV, etc. This book implies that they just cannot relate to the larger culture. I don't doubt it, but I'm surprised how separate the nations can be more than a half-millennium after Columbus' voyage and especially given the large amount of miscegenation between Native Americans and European Americans.

Many readers will be pleased that this is book is neither rigorous statistics nor gushy personal narratives. Still, there is a way in which this author is just summarizing stuff. It's not terribly academic. The figures she presents I'm almost sure were collected by various prison bureaux anyway. I loved this book, but it sure isn't tenure material. You can tell the author admires the Native inmates that she met. However, in her introduction, she makes them look TERRIBLE and cites phenomena that will only revive racist images of Native Americans, and men of color generally.