Full Description
An intimate collection of African American women's voices on their lives in prison
The rate of women entering prison has increased nearly 400 percent since 1980, with African American women constituting the largest percentage of this population. However, despite their extremely disproportional representation in correctional institutions, little attention has been paid to their experiences within the criminal justice system.
Inner Lives provides readers the rare opportunity to intimately connect with African American women prisoners. By presenting the women's stories in their own voices, Paula C. Johnson captures the reality of those who are in the system, and those who are working to help them. Johnson offers a nuanced and compelling portrait of this fastest-growing prison population by blending legal history, ethnography, sociology, and criminology. These striking and vivid narratives are accompanied by equally compelling arguments by Johnson on how to reform our nation's laws and social policies, in order to eradicate existing inequalities. Her thorough and insightful analysis of the historical and legal background of contemporary criminal law doctrine, sentencing theories, and correctional policies sets the stage for understanding the current system.
Contents
Foreword by Joyce A. Logan Preface AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1 Analysis of African American Women's Experiences in the U.S. Criminal Justice System 1I Profiles and Narratives of African American Women in the U.S. Criminal Justice System A Currently Incarcerated Women Don Alda Cynthia Mamie Elizabeth Rae Ann Donna Martha Marilyn B Formerly Incarcerated Women Bettie Gibson Joyce Ann Brown Betty Tyson Karen Michelle Blakney Ida P. McCray Millicent Pierce Joyce A. Logan Donna Hubbard Spearman C Criminal Justice Officials and Support Networks Judge Juanita Bing Newton Assistant Warden Gerald Clay Grace House Administrators: Rochelle Bowles, Mary Dolan, Annie Gonzalez, and Kathy Nolan Sandra Barnhill, Director, Aid to Children of Imprisoned Mothers (AIM)Rhodessa Jones, Director, Medea Theater Project Professor Brenda V. Smith A Family Story: Renay, Judy, Debbie, and Kito III Conclusions and Recommendations Afterword by Angela J. Davis Appendix A: Self-Study Course on African American Women's History Appendix B: Resource Directory Notes Bibliography Index About the Author
