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Pelican Bay Prison and the Rise of Long-Term Solitary Confinement
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Narrated by:
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C.S.E Cooney
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By:
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Keramet Reiter
About this listen
Originally meant to be brief and exceptional, solitary confinement in US prisons has become long-term and common. Prisoners spend 23 hours a day in featureless cells, with no visitors or human contact for years on end, and they are held entirely at administrators' discretion. Keramet Reiter tells the history of one "supermax", California's Pelican Bay State Prison, whose extreme conditions recently sparked a statewide hunger strike by 30,000 prisoners. This book describes how Pelican Bay was created without legislative oversight, in fearful response to 1970s radicals; how easily prisoners slip into solitary; and the mental havoc and social costs of years and decades in isolation. The product of 15 years of research in and about prisons, this book provides essential background to a subject now drawing national attention.
©2016 Keramet Reiter (P)2016 TantorListeners also enjoyed...
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- Ariel
- 11-10-16
Thorough research
Great book, meticulously researched and remarkably humane. An enlightening (and disturbing) view into how prison policy is developed in California.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Robin Sol Lieberman
- 05-11-17
Medicine
The research and care that went into this book is a miracle for those interested in criminal justice reform or for those simply interested in discovering the dark corners of solitary. This book is as much a documentary as it is a living prayer for tomorrow...
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1 person found this helpful
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- Mark
- 11-14-20
informative
Thorough and incredibly researched book on solitary confinement in this country. An incomplete and inhumane solution to a very complex problem in our prison system.
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- Daniel
- 11-08-16
Poor killers what about the victims !!
This so call author try to make killers into victims instead of the real victims. She does not believe that the killers should be punished .According to her killers should only be in jail have the right to play Baseball what movie and have steak and glass of wine for diner.
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- Joseph
- 09-27-17
Not worth it
Very one sided, repetitive and the narrator's voice gets annoying. Very liberal although it does start out well
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