Life without Parole: Living in Prison Today by Victor Hassine; A Life for a Life: Life

Punishment (America's Other Death Penalty) by James A. Paluch, Jr.

Review by: Kristi Hoffman
Teaching Sociology, Vol. 33, No. 2 (Apr., 2005), pp. 229-231
Published by: American Sociological Association
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BOOKREVIEWS 229
vides an outstandingand engagingintroduction staff.
to the field of environmentalsociology for a The authorsuse theirown experiencesas focal
widevarietyof studentsin a rangeof disciplines. points in their respectivetexts, but they both
The organizationof the book is logical and en- explicitlyincorporateotherinmates'storiesand
gaging throughout,and Bell's continuingtheo- lives. The booksbegin with their initiationinto
reticalthreadof "ecologicaldialogue"provides the terrifyingand isolatingexperienceof being
continuityand structurewhile at the same time thrust into the bowels of the criminaljustice
challengingthe readerto thinkmore critically. system. Their overwhelming psychological
The improvements and additionsto the second traumaandharshphysicaldeprivations are pain-
edition have greatly enhancedthe conceptual ful to read and contemplate.Many specificas-
frameworkand empiricalapplication,while at pects of daily life are chronicledthroughchap-
the same time allowing for a more thorough ters on everythingfrom the bland institutional
developmentof conceptssuch as environmental food and unsanitaryliving conditionsto the in-
justice and environmental risk, which are key formalsocial normsthatoften demandignoring
dimensionswithinthe broaderfield of environ- the sufferingof othersand aggressiveresponses
mentalsociology.The inclusionof more recent to interactions.Their observationshave been
empiricalworkshas also strengthened the book skillfullyedited,providingwell-organized chap-
and improvedits representation of a continually ters. The reflectionsand insightsproveto be of
expandingfield of inquiry.Bell has producedan significantsociologicalinterest.
exemplaryresourcefor the instructionof envi- Hassine's book, Life WithoutParole: Living in
ronmentalsociologythat will be of exceptional Prison Today,is dividedinto three majorsec-
valuefor yearsto come. I highlyrecommend this tions. The firstpartdetailsdailylife andits dep-
bookfor any introduction to environmental soci- rivationsas well as describesprisoncultureand
ologyor societyandenvironment course. its social norms. Specific chaptersaddressthe
underground economy, politics, and race rela-
JoanM. Brehm tions. The second section has an ethnographic
IllinoisStateUniversity flavor as most of the chaptersare devotedto
interviewswith otherinmates.Whilethe stories
Life WithoutParole:Livingin PrisonToday.3d depict individuallives and experiences,they
ed. VictorHassine.Los Angeles,CA: Roxbury. representa roughtypologyof inmatesand the
2004. 267 pages.$38.95. consequencesof currentpenal policy. These
graphicinterviewsexposethe horrorsanddepth
A Lifefor A Life: Life Punishment(America's of victimizationexperiencedby so many in
OtherDeath Penalty).JamesA. Paluch,Jr. Los prison, includingrape, mental illness, lack of
Angeles, CA: Roxbury. 2004. 239 pages. adequatemedical care and overmedication.In
$38.95 the thirdsection,Hassinediscussesseveralsig-
nificantissuesincludingthe convictcode, inmate
These two autobiographical books, writtenby andguardinteraction patterns,the dynamicsand
men serving life sentences, describe in stark patternsof prisonrape, and the devastatingef-
detaillife in a contemporary maximum-security fects of overcrowding.A strongpointof his text
prison. Physicaland mentalsurvivalis always is his illuminationof the historicalchangesin
paramountand daily life is dangerouslyunpre- maximum-security prisonsover the last 20 years
dictableyet numbinglymonotonous.Everyhour andthe consequencesof overcrowding.The last
is controlledby officialregulationsandinformal chapter,depictingprisonerstrappedon a run-
ruleswith the threatof grimmersurroundings in away train,is a powerfulanalogyand ends the
restrictivesolitary confinement.The detailed book with a call to societyto takeresponsibility
descriptionsallow the reader to imagine the for its penalpolicies. Whilethe entirebook re-
harshlivingconditions,sensethe loneliness,and flects to some degree Hassine's educational
feel the anxietyassociatedwith misconductvio- statusas a lawyerpriorto his incarceration, this
lations-warrantedor not-which result in the thirdsectionclearlydemonstrates his abilityto
loss of the few remainingprivileges.The fear criticallyassess variousaspects of prison life.
that permeatesdaily life is palatableand one The three sections, while not always distinct,
gaspsat the utterhopelessnessof thosewho lack makethis book interestingto read, as it is part
the intellect,interpersonal
skillsandphysicaland journalbutalso containsethnographic interviews
psychologicaltoughnessto avoid frequentvic- anda critiqueof currentcorrectional policies.
timizationby other inmates and a neglectful Hassine's book is now in its third edition,

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230 TEACHINGSOCIOLOGY
attestingto its powerfulproseandinsights.This lighted.Paluch'sdescriptionof his own abuseat
edition representsa significant improvement the handsof guardsis told in a mannerthatre-
fromthe firsttwo editions. vealshis fearwithoutbeingusedto elicitpity.
The revisedand new introductions writtenby Althougha high school dropout,Paluchhas
one of the editors,RobertJohnson,give students obtainedhis GED and becomean accomplished
issues and policy concernsto ponder.In addi- writerand poet duringhis 12 years in prison.
tion, theseconcisechapterintroductions provide While his writingis more straightforward than
instructorswith questionsto generatefocused Hassine'sandhis bookless of a directcommen-
class discussionon importantsociologicalcon- taryon theproblemswithcurrentpenalpolicy, it
cepts. Notableamongthe five new chaptersare has a ring of simplehonestyin its descriptions.
more profilesof variousinmates,a description Paluchavoids graphicdepictionsof sexual as-
of a false confessionanda shortbut informative saultandhis use of poetryis an effectiveliterary
interviewwith a judge describingsome of the tool to impartthe emotionsand feelingsexperi-
failures of current correctionalpolicy. The encedby inmates.His writingstyle and lack of
judge'sstatusis likelyto give his wordscredibil- pretensemakesthis book accessibleto a first-
ity and weightwith students,althoughmanyof year college student.Aside from the detailed
the same criticismsare implicitthroughoutthe portrayalof everydaylife in prison, the other
book. The longestnew chapter,calledthe Hitch- major strengthof the book is Part X, titled
hiker'sGuide,seemsto cover some of the same "Family."This section containsshort chapters
materialin earliersections.However,its length writtenby a father,a mother,and a wife of a
andcontentmakeit an ideal "standalone"chap- manwitha life sentence,revealingthe enormous
ter for a short yet compellingexcerptfor any impactof incarceration on family members.A
sociologyor criminaljusticecourse. next edition of this book should attemptto
Hassine'sinclusionof storiesabouthis fellow lengthenthesechapters,perhapspayingattention
inmatesinfusesa little humorand helps to take to the initialandlong-termeffectson thesefam-
the "edge" off an otherwisedifficultbook to ily members'lives. In addition,a new chapter
read, given its topic and contents.Tales sur- from the perspectiveof a child of an inmate
roundingcontrabandfood providethe some of wouldbe meaningfulto readers,given thathun-
the lightestmomentsin thebook. dredsof thousandsof childrenhavea parentwho
The nextrevisionof the bookshouldpay care- is incarcerated.
ful attentionto what time periodconditionsor Despite some key differencesbetween the
events occurred;in some parts it is not clear books, the similaritiesin the authors'experi-
whetherit is the 1980s, 1990s, or a morerecent ences are striking,giving credenceto their de-
year. Futureeditions could tackle the vexing pictionof life in prison.The books are a testa-
problemsof the agingprisonpopulationandthe mentto the authors'abilitiesto adaptto a harsh
lack of fundingand resolve for rehabilitation and violentenvironmentand deal with the psy-
efforts. chologicaldifficultiesand utter lonelinessof a
Paluch'sbook, A Lifefor a Life:LifeImpris- life sentence.The authorsexhibit couragefor
onment:America'sOtherDeathPenaltyis in its their willingnessto write abouttheir lives and
first edition and by comparisonis shorterand perseverein the face of overwhelmingodds.
more narrow,as its intentis to simplychronicle Their experiencesreveal that regular contact
daily life. The book beginswith shortintroduc- with volunteersand letters, phone calls, and
tions by the editorswhich describehow their financialhelpfromfamilymembershelpinmates
contact with the authorwas established,key hold on to hope and a constructiveattitude,de-
aspectsof prisonlife to be addressed,andimpor- spitea realitythatis designedto destroyphysical
tant sociological concepts exemplifiedin the or mentalwellbeing.Theirdescriptions of prison
book. The secondchapterthruststhe readerinto life questionthe perceivedleniencyof a life sen-
the raw experienceof imprisonment as Paluch tence comparedto the death penalty. These
usesjournalwritingto moveus quicklyfromhis books challengethe abolitionof paroleand re-
arrestto processingthroughPennsylvania's De- veal thatrehabilitation is oftennota goalactively
partmentof Corrections.Entire chaptersare pursuedby our legal and correctionalpolicies.
devotedto describingthe food, the limitedhy- While some readersmay view the described
giene privileges, unsanitaryliving conditions, physicalandsocialenvironment of prisonas fair
andinadequate medicalcare. In addition,restric- punishmentfor murder,it is importantto note
tive housing,relationships with guards,security that many convictedfelons face similarliving
procedures,and sex and violence are high- conditionsandmostwill be returnedto the larger

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BOOK REVIEWS 231
society. riageand family(Chapter8), education(Chapter
Overall,Hassine'sand Paluch'sfirsthandac- 9), religion (Chapter10), health (Chapter11),
countsmakefor rivetingreading,althoughmany power,politicsandauthority(Chapter12), popu-
studentswill likely wantadditionaldetailsabout lationand humanecology (Chapter13), and so-
theircrimesandmorereflectionon the long-term cial change (Chapter14). The book concludes
consequences for their victims' families. witha chapteron buildinga careerwithsociology
Paluch's book, due to its writing style and (Chapter15)andoneon makinga differencewith
length,is an excellentsupplemental text for even sociology(Chapter16). Chaptersare on average
an introductory sociology class as well as being aboutsix to sevenpagesin length.
Eachchapteris framedaroundfive categories:
appropriate for upper-level undergraduate
courses.Hassine'sbook, with RobertJohnson's Quick Start (which identifiesspecific learning
introductions,discussionof policy issues and objectives expected from the chapter),Terms
make it better suited for (key termsto be learned),Topics(in whicheach
graphicaccounts, upper-
level undergraduate andgraduatestudents.Given chaptertopic is introduced),Tools (introducing
the structureof the Hassinebook, using only conceptualandmethodological tools), andTasks
severalchaptersor one sectionmaybe sufficient (usually two to three brief problem-based vi-
for some coursesand assignments.Both books gnettesthatthe studentcan workon to helpun-
are shortand accessibleenoughto be assigned derstandeach chapter's Terms, Topics, and
for bookreviewsandwouldmakeexcellentread- Tools by thinkingthrougha practicalproblem).
These presentationalsections give the book a
ing materialto go alongwitha moreexperiential
activitysuch as a prisontour. symmetrythatmakesit easy for studentsto use.
Thesebooksclearlymeettheirexplicitgoal of They will respondpositivelyto this format,be-
causetheywill knowwhatto look forwardto as
exposingthe currentconditionsin largecontem-
poraryprisons.Havingsome sense of daily life they approacheach chapterand can easily com-
in prisonis important for all citizensbut impera- paretheirworkacrosschapters.
tive for those studentswho will choose to seek As the chaptertopicssuggest,AppliedSociol-
ogy is a mini-introduction to sociologicalcon-
employmentin the vast criminaljustice system
and its supportingagencies.While little is said cepts and methods. The sections on Terms,
about the tragic consequencesfor victims of Tools, and Topicspresenta minimalamountof
violent crime and their families, these books information, butenoughto give the studenta feel
for sociology. This means, however, that the
bring into sharpfocus the humancost of our
currentpenal policies and foster sympathyfor bookis not meantto standon its own, becauseit
those who are forced to inhabitthe primitive, does not give the studentenoughdepthof knowl-
violentworldof a maximum-security prison. edge. AppliedSociologyis best used as a com-
panion/supplement to an introductory sociology
KristiHoffman text or an introductory methods text; or, as the
RoanokeCollege authorsnote, "It...canbe used in appliedsociol-
ogy courses,socialproblemscoursesandaction-
learningcoursesat all levels" (p. 2). I believe
AppliedSociology:Terms, Topics, Tools, and the most useful
Tasks. StephenF. Steele and Jammie Price. part of the book are the Tasks
sections-the vignettes at the end of each chap-
Belmont,CA: Thomson/Wadsworth. 2004. 114
ter. The informationcontainedin the Terms,
pages.$12.95
Topics, and Tools sections is availablein the
Thisbookis well organized,containinga Preface primary text in more depth;AppliedSociology
and 16 chapters.Chapter1-a briefdiscussionof invites students to workwith thoseTerms,Top-
I
"How Can Use Sociology?"-offers descrip- ics, and Tools in a practicalway.
tionsof the existingtypesof sociologyandof the Given this information aboutthe structureand
natureof the sociologicalperspective.Beginning content of the book, what is AppliedSociology
with Chapter2 and continuingthroughChapter primarilyabout,what are its promisesand val-
14, the authorsanchoreach chapterin a specific ues, andwhatareits shortcomings?
sociologicalconceptor set of concepts.In these Applied Sociology is primarily about helping
chaptersthey discuss:measurement (Chapter2), studentslearn to think like sociologistsand to
culture,socializationandsocialstructure (Chapter come to appreciatethe value (intellectuallyand
3), groupsand organizations(Chapter4), devi- practically)of the sociologicalperspective.The
ance (Chapter 5), diversity and inequality authorsmakethis clearat the end of Chapter3:
(Chapter6), economyandwork(Chapter7), mar- "Understanding the sociologicalperspectiveis

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