13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Author Victor Hassine Lauded for Efforts, September 25, 2003
This review is from: Life Without Parole: Living in Prison Today (Paperback)
I met the author in prison during an educational presentation, and found out about the book through our local criminal justice classes. After reading this book, I came away with an increased knowledge of life in prison and the multiple methods of manipulation that exists among prisoners. The book is well written, researched, and exemplifies the wasted talents of inmates in prison today. Victor is to be applauded for his efforts to enlighten us about life in prison in a realistic manner.
Pat Puline
patpuline@aol.com
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
truth, December 12, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Life Without Parole: Living in Prison Today (Paperback)
Life without Parole is an inmate's account of life at Graterford prison in Pennsylvania. It is a view of prison as he knew it. I would never expect the guards nor the administration to publicly admit to the goings on at Graterford during the time the author was incarcerated. There are countless acounts of wrong doing by both inmates and guards alike. Mr. Hassine has presented his view of prison and I find it to be informative, interesting, and believable.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Provides outsiders with a good sense of life in prison, February 12, 1999
Hassine graduated from law school, and then almost immediately was arrested and sentenced to life in prison for murder. This book provides his account of his experiences in one maximum security, overcrowded, violent prison near Philadelphia, PA.
I have never visited the prison he describes, and thus can not comment on the factual accuracy of the events described. However, having spent endless hours with inmates in similar prisons, I believe that he has certainly captured the essence of being an inmate in this type of prison. It is well written, and provides stories, from which the reader is allowed to draw his or her on conclusions. He does not preach, but tells his story simply and compellingly.
Since this country is sending an increasing number of young people to live out most of their lives in prison, all or us should be aware of what we are doing. This book accomplishes that purpose.
Unlike some other similar books (Jack Abbott's, Belly of the Beast, comes to mind), Hassine does not focus exclusively on the negatives of prison life. This is not a "prison destroyed my life" rant. Rather, it is a successful attempt to give a balanced view of day-to-day life in prison. The overwhelming fact of which is constant boredom, with a heavy overlay of barely supressed violence (mostly by other inmates, but occassionally from guards).
My only criticism is that the introductory comments of the editor (thankfully short) interspersed throughout the book are distracting and unnecessary.
All in all, for anyone interested in learning what life is like in America's prosons, this book is highly recommended.
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