Prison Journal: An Irreverent Look at Life on the Inside

Rating:
Summary: An eye opener
Review: I could hardly put the book down. Wonderfully written! A story of nobility and courage amidst a justice system that went awry. The journal entries were a lesson on dignity and fortitude. Along with these lessons of moral character the writings were humorous, inspiring and touching. The most exasperating part of this novel were the countless examples of the senseless monies spent year after year to house non violent 1st offenders. A prison system more concerned about their own jobs rather than the welfare of our country. This book changed my original belief of lock 'em up and throw away the key to that of, the punishment must truly fit the crime.

Rating:
Summary: Good although could provide an erroneous view of prison life
Review: Timilty is a man of obvious intelligence and ability. He brings his gifts and talents to his experience of incarceration. However, the prison "camp" in which he finds himself is so different from the prisons in which I worked, it was hard to feel compassionate or understanding. Often he mentions the expansive meals as well as the fine equipment available to the inmates. This is truly opposite to the meager, repetitive, unapetizing fare that I've seen served at prison facilities. And exercise yards are functional gyms or walking around the pods, not the tracks and weight rooms Timilty describes. This place was 5-star compared to most facilities. Timilty concludes with some solid points on prison reform although I would wish that he could have included the less well-supplied in his thesis. The best part of the book for me was his description of his fellow inmates as lovable people. That's where I could identify with him.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent writing! Terrific insights on prison reform needs.
Review: Timilty writes from a career in politics and how he was caught up in an aggressive AG's effort to widen a political dragnet in Beantown. His well written tome (with a fine assist from Boston Globe writer Jack Thomas)moves fast, articulates prison life from the inside and calls for reform in first non-violent sentencing guidelines.