New Jack: Guarding Sing Sing, by Ted Conover (HC, 2000,$3)
A "new jack" is a new prison guard. Conover, a journalist, goes undercover as a guard at Sing Sing. He "dramatizes the conflict between the necessity to isolate criminals and the dehumanization- of guards as well as inmates- that almost inevitably takes place behind bars." Added to that, he has to keep who he is not just from the prisoners, but also from his fellow guards.
Iron House: Stories from the Yard, by Jerome Washington (TPB, 1994, $1.75)
Attica was Washington's home for 15 years. He filed and won a historic First Amendment lawsuit in defense of his right to write. Eventually he would be freed, and the charges against him dropped. This is his story, but also the story of the others at Attica.
Just added 7/18
The I Chong: Meditations from the Joint, by Tommy Chong, "of the Legendary Comedy Duo Cheech and Chong" (HC, 2006, $2)
In 2003 The DEA raided Chong's home as part of a sting.. "As a result of the raid... and the Bush administration's determination to make an example out of the "Pope of Pot" , he was sentenced to nine months in prison. Thus starts his spiritual, physical and political journey. Is an experience in federal prison the same as an experience in Sing Sing or Attica? I doubt it. But probably bad enough.
