Prisons Foundation - Prisons Help Sourcebook

This is the most comprehensive compendium ever published of resources available to those in prison and people who interact with them–family, friends, correctional staff, researchers, writers, students, volunteers and others. A large book, it is 8 ½ by 11 and over 400 pages. The contents are as follows:

Section One–Prison Resource Directories   Not one resource directory but three, based on the research of three respected groups working in the field of prison research and advocacy. Information (including names, addresses and email addresses) is provided for more than 300 national and regional organizations that work on such things as legal assistance, providing free books to inmates (both new and used), educational support, pen pals, health advice, religious materials, and more.

Section Two–Annotated Prison Bibliographies   The annotated bibliographies included in this section are arranged by the following categories: Nonfictional Accounts of Prison Life, Fictional Accounts of Prison Life, and Academic Studies of Prison. Also included is a bibliography of professional manuals, training guides, and other support materials for men and women working in prisons, many available at no cost on the Internet at the web addresses provided.

Section Three–Original Prison Memoir   Published here for the first time, this full-length prison memoir is entitled Doing Time in Waltz Time and covers ten years in federal and state prisons. Written by an individual who had three books published before he became a prison inmate, the book focuses on what he accomplished during that decade, taking advantage of all the resources available to him. Reviewing this book, Tom Lagana, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul and Serving Time, Serving Others, has this to say: "Doing Time in Waltz Time is a well-written prison memoir and a unique one. It shows the raw reality of prison-life and focuses on the positive achievements that are possible behind bars."

Section Four–Resource Guide for Wardens   This is a lengthy and informative guide for wardens and also useful for anyone who wants to know what it takes to be a good warden. Written with the cooperation and advice of seasoned wardens from around the country, it is divided into sections that cover such topics as: setting goals for the prison, assessing staff characteristics and behavior, managing the chain of command, inspiring those under you, listening to staff and inmates, building a team, getting feedback, the budget process and fiscal decision making, dealing with absenteeism and turnover, rewarding and correcting staff, and holding contractors accountable.

Section Five–Visual Prison Resources   This section features over 50 descriptions of prison videos, most of them used in the training of correctional officers. In addition, reviews are provided of popular movies about prison, including detailed plot descriptions and analyses. The movies chosen are all readily available at video rental stores and the prison training videos can be obtained from an Internet store that is frequently visited by prison staff.

Section Six–Items That Can Be Taken Into Prison   Every prison in America has different rules of what can be taken into it by newly convicted persons. In this section, a typical list of permissible items (reproduced from an official jail rule book) is provided. You will be surprised!

Order the Prisons Help Sourcebook now and pay only $75.00, including shipping and handling (a 15% savings from the regular price of $89.00). Purchase orders are acceptable from established organizations. Hardbound edition now available for an additional $15.00. (Publication date 2004)

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