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Games Criminals Play: How You Can Profit by Knowing Them Hardcover – January 1, 2002

by Bud Allen (Author), Diana Bosta (Author)

4.6 1,154 ratings

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Have you ever done anything you didn't really want to do? Have you ever had that 'gut-level feeling' that something was wrong but couldn't put your finger on it? These games are perfected in prison, but are games everyone should know.

Here - for the first time, is a book that - For correctional employees, provides one of the most effective tools for the behavior control of prisoners. For the public, exposes the scam or fraud and teaches how to recognize and prevent the processes criminals apply in society. This is a non-technical book that anyone can understand and use in his or her daily life.

"Games Criminal Play, and How You Can Profit By Knowing Them" is a very important book. Almost daily one reads in the newspapers of various scams perpetrated on the American public. It is a unique book; no one else has revealed before this, the anatomy or structure, of set-ups, or criminals' plots. The cases in this book are not only informative, but intensely interesting.

Print length

228 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Rae John Pub Co
Publication date

January 1, 2002
Dimensions

6.25 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10

0960522603
ISBN-13

978-0960522606
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rae John Pub Co; 1st edition (January 1, 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 228 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0960522603
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0960522606
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #67,799 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #105 in Criminology (Books)
- #3,401 in Reference (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 1,154 ratings

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Customer reviews

1,154 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and relevant. They describe it as an eye-opener into how people manipulate others. The book provides valuable information and life lessons, even for those who have never worked in criminal justice.

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Readability Information quality

129 customers mention "Readability"121 positive8 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and relevant. They say it provides an eye-opening look into how people manipulate staff. The book is a quick read and provides great insight into games and manipulative scams. It's also a good book for correctional officers and teenagers regarding communication.

"This book is highly recommended by a lot of sources - for good reason...." Read more

"...have spent many years working with prisoners and in this very interesting book explain how convicts frequently seek to manipulate (set-up) their..." Read more

"Great book highly recommend for any one In Corrections" Read more

"This is a fascinating book.My takeaway:1...." Read more

84 customers mention "Information quality"80 positive4 negative

Customers find the book informative and helpful. They appreciate the insightful life lessons and valuable insights into manipulating others. The book provides useful case histories showing empathy and sympathy hooks, even though some of the examples are dated. Overall, readers find the wisdom timeless and the information relevant.

"...with incarcerated folks (lawyer, volunteer, whatever) this has some great insight. Safety & integrity is #1." Read more

"...Very informative" Read more

"...The book provides a useful set of case histories showing the empathy and sympathy hooks of first names, common interests, similar backgrounds and..." Read more

"...manipulation in a correctional facility, it's still reveals a lot of devious tactics people used to manipulate an environment like school, jobsite..." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

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Bibs34

Must read for corrections

Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2024

Verified Purchase

This book is highly recommended by a lot of sources - for good reason. If you work in corrections, or just have a general proximity with incarcerated folks (lawyer, volunteer, whatever) this has some great insight. Safety & integrity is #1.

Helpful

Odysseus

SUPER Book for Guards, Teachers, and Military Officers!!

Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2012

Verified Purchase

A SUPERB Book for ALL Persons Working in Institutional Environments!

Allen & Bosta's GAMES CRIMINALS PLAY, originally published in 1981, has become an all-time classic. I will not add to the praise already given the tome here at Amazon, but I will provide a (short) synopsis of the book's key argument/thesis:

In any type of institutional setting, you have those in positions of authority (Prison guards, teachers, and military officers) and those in their charge (Prisoners, students, and enlisted personnel). Invariably, the two are at fundamental odds: One side is trying to maintain its authority, while the other camp is trying to subvert that authority...

In particular, Allen & Bosta focus upon the strange power game played between Guards and Convicts.

According to the authors, the ultimate power game between the two is called "the Set-Up." Here, the prisoners will try - incessantly - innumerable means of ensnaring those above them by creating a one-sided relationship of leverage based upon one party being obligated to the other. In other words, a prisoner in a penitentiary will gain power over a guard by making the Guard become obligated to the Convict.

How is this accomplished?

Most cons - working individually or in teams -- will try and focus upon an individual guard they refer to as "the Duck." A Duck is a guard who will be sucked into a relationship whereby the Con will very, very slowly......but gradually........have more and more (and yes, more) power over the Guard/Duck. This ruse is carried-out by Cons who are forever testing a potential victim by engaging in tiny, even microscopic, rule infractions: If the Guard ignores these initial infractions, the Con knows they have a future Victim, i.e. a `Duck-in-the-Making.' While a guard may blow-off a minor rule violation by a convict to be "nice" or "compassionate" or "empathetic," the Con will view such acquiescence as both PERMISSION -- and a personal WEAKNESS. In short, the more rules/infractions the guard allows, the more power the Con achieves over his Victim. The Guard will become trapped by their own kindness and compassion (like a fly in a spider's web) to such an extent that, eventually, the Con will begin to threaten the Guard on the latter's superiors for the all Guard's indiscretions. The Guard, fearing for his/her job, ends up giving-in more and more to the wishes and demands of the Con to the point where.........the Guard is engaged in open criminality. Clever, eh? The Duck will find themselves bending and ignoring all kinds of official rules and regulations in a constant attempt to pacify the Con, which can range from smuggling contraband into prison to giving into sexual advances. If the Guard attempts to withdraw from the relationship, the Con may be threaten his Victim with bodily harm. In short, the Guard finds their hands tied by a Con with a second grade education - but a Ph.D. in `street psychology.'

The Con will use any (Repeat: ANY) ruse possible to gain the Duck's initial cooperation, playing-off the Guard's natural sense of compassion, friendship, empathy, urgency, and/or guilt. Once a Guard gives in - even in the slightest way -- the Cons have their Duck! Remember: ACQUIESCENCE = PERMISSION. Sociopaths have no conscience, but their Victims do.......

So, how is a person in position of authority to avoid becoming a Duck? Some VITAL points: 1) Always be firm but fair in dealing with those in your charge: Never tolerate a breaking of a rule (no matter how small or seemingly `insignificant'). Always call the infraction. Do NOT be harsh, however, but do call the violator's attention to it; 2) ALWAYS avoid the formation/creation of a "You/Me" relationship. In other words, NEVER allow yourself to form a personal relationship with the person underneath you; 3) If a Con does violate a rule, immediately bring in a third party (Boss or supervisor) into the situation - and tell the Con of your intention to do just that. Put everything in writing. File a report. In other words, get the situation "out into the open." The introduction of an outside party immediately breaks any potential possibility of a Con "isolating" the Guard and then preying upon them.

36 people found this helpful

Helpful

Cee Bee

Informative

Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2024

Verified Purchase

As a Corrections Officer and Detention Corporal I read this book at the start of my carreer and referred to it throughout. Very informative

Helpful

Baraniecki Mark Stuart

The Games Criminals Play

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2012

Verified Purchase

The authors have spent many years working with prisoners and in this very interesting book explain how convicts frequently seek to manipulate (set-up) their supervisors and what prison employees can learn to avoid entrapment.

The book provides a useful set of case histories showing the empathy and sympathy hooks of first names, common interests, similar backgrounds and items such as the classic phrase, "You and your unique abilities are the only things that will rehabilitate me - I need your help" or "Only this time".

The aim is to gain power over (turn) employees and manipulate them to obtain favours/material goods and raise status with other offenders. The authors aim to protect employees by making them aware of setup techniques. Fundamentally they require employees to be fair but formal with inmates, set a good example, and never speak or act on the inmate level. When in doubt ask an experienced 3rd party and let the inmate know that you're doing it.

The authors clearly say that not all inmates are manipulative but a large enough proportion are to repay taking precautions.

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jaret Heil

It is what it is, and it helped me immensely.

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2024

Verified Purchase

I worked in jails and prisons for 5 years and typically had 30-40 inmate workers. This book opened my eyes and made me aware of what was really happening all around me on a daily basis. People saying it’s “dated” tend to be more progressive than I am. If you’re contemplating any type of criminal justice career add this to your reading list. It has applications outside of jails as well.

Helpful

Perry Burkhart II

Great book

Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2024

Verified Purchase

Great book highly recommend for any one In Corrections

Helpful

victoria yang

useful

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2024

Must read

One of the best books I have read!

Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2021

Verified Purchase

This is a fascinating book.

My takeaway:

1. Be on lookout for sob/sad story, people asking you for favors or people doing you favors.
2. Do not tell others about your likes/dislikes. It's better to be silent. Silence is gold.
3. Keep a diary of whats happening in your life. I personally write down events of my day in my diary so I know what's going on around me that I missed.

Some topics I cover in my diary:

1. Did someone praise me or give me compliment today?
2. Did someone try to do something good for me for no reason?
3. Did someone tell me a sad/sob story today?
4. Did I accept a favor today?
5. Did i complain about something to someone today?

This helps me keep a tab on my life.

This book will help you against a lot of setups but at the end of the day remember, you could do 1000 things right for 1000 days straight and then fall for one stupid thing.

Your life is nothing more than a black swan event waiting to happen!

19 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

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Eli a

great book

Reviewed in Canada on May 20, 2019

Verified Purchase

great book, everyone who is about to work with inmate should read it
in my opinion reading this book should be in the correctional formation program

super livre tout ceux qui vont travailler avec des détenus devraient lire ce livre et il devrait même faire partie des lectures obligatoire dans les formations d'agent correctionnel.

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FromHolland

Necessary reading!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 1, 2011

Verified Purchase

This book should be read by anyone who ever works in a prison - be it as a prison officer, agency worker or volunteer.

Despite it being an American book the content totally applies to UK inmates. It goes into the details of 'conditioning' and gives helpful insights into appropriate responses.

One of the prisons I have worked in now uses it for training new officers and agency staff during induction!

The 'americanisms' can get a bit tiresome, but it does not seriously detract from the content.

Required reading to keep yourself safe in the prison environment!

Amazon Customer

Very well written

Reviewed in Canada on August 15, 2020

Verified Purchase

Only half way through this book and honestly I haven't been able to put it down. Very valuable information here and well written!!

Dale Barr

Great service

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 8, 2019

Verified Purchase

Reading

Sylvia G.

The things you never knew about cons...

Reviewed in Canada on January 30, 2019

Verified Purchase

A classic for anyone working with an offender (or street) community or ministry.

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