American Prison
American Prison: A Reporter's Undercover Journey into the Business of Punishment is a 2018 book by Shane Bauer, published by Penguin Press, about incarceration in the United States and the usage of private prisons.
| Author | Shane Bauer |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Penguin Press |
Publication date | 2018/09/18 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 368 |
| Awards |
|
| Website | PenguinRandomHouse |
Bauer had worked at the Winn Correctional Center in Winn Parish, Louisiana, then operated by Corrections Corporation of America (now CoreCivic), as an undercover journalist in 2014.[1] The book is based upon his experiences, which were initially chronicled in a 2016 Mother Jones article written by Bauer.[2] The book was released on September 18, 2018.[3] Bauer alternates between discussing his experiences at Winn and the history of incarceration in the United States.[1]
Reception edit
Nate Blakeslee of The New York Times wrote that "the sheer number of forehead-slapping quotes from Bauer’s superiors and fellow guards alone are worth the price of admission."[2]
Michael Schaub of National Public Radio described it as "an enraging, necessary look at the private prison system, and a convincing clarion call for prison reform."[1]
Kirkus Reviews described it as "A potent, necessary broadside against incarceration in the U.S."[4]
The book also received the Silver Medal for Non-Fiction from the California Book Awards.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c Schaub, Michael (2018-09-19). "Investigative Journalist Aims To Expose Ills Of Privately Run Prisons". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2018-10-10.
- ^ a b Blakeslee, Nate (2018-10-01). "The Dickensian Conditions of Life in a For-Profit Lockup". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-10-10.
- ^ Ferranti, Seth (2018-09-18). "All the Terrible Things You See and Learn as a Guard in a Private Prison". Vice. Retrieved 2018-10-10.
- ^ "American Prison". Kirkus Reviews. 2018-05-28. Retrieved 2018-10-10. - Review issue June 15, 2018.
External links edit
- Chotiner, Isaac (2018-09-14). "Dehumanized". Slate. - Interview of Bauer about his book
- "Shane Bauer | American Prison". Strand Book Store. 2018-09-26.