Profiles from Prison: Adjusting to Life Behind Bars

Michael Santos

Jun 2003 · Greenwood Publishing Group

About this ebook

Written by an inmate serving 45 years for a drug conviction when he was 23, this is an in-depth view living behind bars from the perspective of prisoners themselves. Sections of the book are based on length of imprisonment. Prisoners in Fort Dix, N.J., detail their unique experiences, thoughts, and feelings about life on the inside. Some describe the actions that lead to their confinement, or detail the complexities of living in all-male communities. Others reveal the ways they cope with their terms, or the expectations they have for life after prison.

Santos offers the gripping stories of men serving a variety of terms, providing commentary and analysis as he guides readers through the prison experience. How men adjust to their confinement, and how they utilize their time while serving their sentences, can be a predictor of future success or failure both in prison and society upon their release. Through these often-difficult accounts, readers gain a greater understanding of what it means to be a prisoner, and how the system itself can contribute to both positive adjustment and negative outcomes alike.

About the author

MICHAEL SANTOS, born in 1964, was arrested in 1987 and convicted of charges related to the sale of cocaine. He was sentenced to serve 45 years. While in prison, he has earned a B.A. and an M.A. at accredited universities, and has published articles and book chapters on life in prison. Not scheduled for release until 2013, he continues to study and write on topics related to prison life and the corrections system.