Inner lives : voices of African American women in prison / Paula C. Johnson ; with a foreword by Joyce A. Logan and an afterword by Angela J. Davis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Johnson, Paula C.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Women prisoners--United States--Biography.

Women prisoners.

Women prisoners--United States--Interviews.

African American prisoners--Biography.

African American prisoners.

African American prisoners--Interviews.

Discrimination in criminal justice administration--United States.

Discrimination in criminal justice administration.

United States.

Genre:

Interviews.

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xiii, 339 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : New York University Press, [2003]

Summary:

Inner Lives provides readers with a rare portrait of 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. Inner Lives offers a nuanced and compelling portrait of the fastest-growing demographic group by blending legal history, ethnography, sociology, and criminology. These striking and vivid narratives are accompanied by Johnson's equally essential arguments on how to reform our nation's laws and social policies to eradicate existing inequalities. By pairing careful analysis with firsthand accounts, Inner Lives presents important new insights into the criminal justice system.

Contents:

I Analysis of African American Women's Experiences in the U.S. Criminal Justice System 19

II Profiles and Narratives of African American Women in the U.S. Criminal Justice System 51

A Currently Incarcerated Women 55

1 DonAlda 57

2 Cynthia 64

3 Mamie 78

4 Elizabeth 89

5 Rae Ann 96

6 Donna 107

7 Martha 116

8 Marilyn 124

B Formerly Incarcerated Women 131

9 Bettie Gibson 133

10 Joyce Ann Brown 142

11 Betty Tyson 158

12 Karen Michelle Blakney 167

13 Ida P. McCray 175

14 Millicent Pierce 183

15 Joyce A. Logan 190

16 Donna Hubbard Spearman 195

C Criminal Justice Officials and Support Networks 205

17 Judge Juanita Bing Newton 207

18 Assistant Warden Gerald Clay 220

19 Grace House Administrators: Rochelle Bowles, Mary Dolan, Annie Gonzalez, and Kathy Nolan 227

20 Sandra Barnhill, Director, Aid to Children of Imprisoned Mothers (AIM) 237

21 Rhodessa Jones, Director, Medea Theater Project 243

22 Professor Brenda V. Smith 252

23 A Family Story: Renay, Judy, Debbie, and Kito 261.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 325-333) and index.

ISBN:

0814742548

0814742556

OCLC:

50520521