By C1 Staff
With the popularity of “Orange is the New Black,” we decided to take a look to see what other books are out there, detailing life behind bars from an inmate’s point of view.
Whether this is getting an inside look before becoming a corrections officer or looking for insight as a veteran to better connect with your charges, everyone can glean something new from another perspective.
Take a look at what we’ve gathered, and email editor@corrections1.com with books we’ve missed.
Go behind the wall
Leavenworth delves into life inside the notorious maximum-security prison, where ruthless gangs compete for control and infamous inmates like Carl Cletus Bowles and Thomas Silverstein reign. Author Pete Earley, after two years of immersive research and interviews, provides a gripping account of the brutal realities within America’s oldest federal penitentiary.
Thirteen women recount their lives leading up to and including their incarceration, discussing egregious human rights violations including sterilization and shackling during childbirth. A hard look at what life can be like for an incarcerated female inmate.
Piper Kerman, once involved in drug money smuggling, is sentenced to 15 months at a federal prison, where she navigates a harsh new world of strict rules and unexpected friendships. Her memoir offers a rare glimpse into the lives of women in the American prison system.
Davis seeks to prove that the time for prison is an approaching an end, according to the book’s Amazon page. She argues for “decarceration,” as well as the transformation of society as a whole.
When a journalist’s request to shadow a recruit at the New York State Corrections Officer Academy was denied, he did the next best thing – he became a corrections officer himself. The resulting book details a year inside one of America’s most dangerous prisons.
In Everything I Ever Needed To Know About Life I Learned In Prison, Kevin Gilford shares his personal journey from a seemingly normal childhood to serving time, offering an authentic glimpse into life behind bars. Inspired by popular shows like Breaking Bad and Orange Is the New Black, Gilford’s story provides a real-life perspective beyond Hollywood’s portrayals.
After serving nearly 20 years for DUI manslaughter, Martin Lockett earned a master’s degree in psychology and became a model inmate. His blog collection, My Prison Life, shares his personal growth, prison experiences, and insights on topics like adjusting to life behind bars and maintaining relationships, offering hope and comfort to both prisoners and their loved ones.
Originally published in the late 1970s and now out of print, Sheehan was given unparalleled access to the Greenhaven Correctional Facility in upstate New York. Her resulting book records the mundane aspects of life for a single inmate called George Manilow, while also recording a turning point in the penal system as it shifted from rehabilitation to more punitive.
This soft-cover book contains 18 short essays and 16 panels of both color and black and white portraits. Published by the Prison University Project in 2008, the photo collection shows inmates in their day to day lives inside prisons.
In a 300-hour interview with a man named Willie Bosket who was convicted of killing two people on the subway in New York when he was 15, Butterfield offers an examination of why people end up in prison. By tracing back through five generations of black Americans, he examines the “caustic cumulative effect of racism and violence.”
While not specifically about prison, this straightforward book is favored by inmates for its spiritual message. It contains letters from both former and current prisoners, and teaches the reader how to meditate, pray and do yoga. It could certainly be beneficial to corrections officers as well in learning how to stay cool and not let the little things get to them, since officers are doing time as well.
Prison Life explores how individuals in prisons across Africa, Europe, and the U.S. organize their lives, contrasting different systems of incarceration. Through diverse case studies, Ian O’Donnell highlights the human experience of imprisonment, showcasing the varied ways order, power, and meaning are maintained in different prison environments.
Secrets from a Prison Cell by Tony Vick, serving two life sentences, reveals the hidden violence and harsh realities of prison life. Through personal stories, essays, and poetry, Vick advocates for prison reform, urging a shift from retribution to rehabilitation.
You Are Not Alone by Louis Dooley shares a powerful story of hitting rock bottom and finding hope in the midst of despair. Through his personal struggles and redemption, Dooley’s story offers comfort, reflection, and a message of resilience for anyone feeling lost or hopeless.
Richard Mangone, once wealthy and successful, embezzled over $40 million and went on the run to avoid prison. After losing everything and spending years in prison, he found faith and rediscovered his true self.
Not specifically a prison memoir, this book outlines the relationship between a writer and a woman convicted of a murder her husband likely committed. It highlights how much one moment can change a life.
You can never have too much insight; check out these six must-read corrections books
This article, originally published on August 27, 2014, has been updated.
Corrections1 is using generative AI to create some content that is edited and fact-checked by our editors.