(Reviewed by JD Jung)
“…they are people. They are not animals. They are not throwaways. They deserve respect and love just as much as anyone else. They are lifers, and they matter.”
This is the reoccurring message that Jennifer M. Miller, Ph.D., assistant professor of criminal justice at the University to Arkansas at Monticello, shares with us in her book, Inside Voices. She continually emphasizes that she considered these men to be her “personal friends”.
While she was a doctoral student, she took tours of two Arkansas prisons and decided to write letters to some of the men she met. Four of these inmates share their life stories and describe how they wound up in prison, what it’s like on the inside and the regrets they still have.
Each of these men’s essays are preceded by a specific introduction by Dr. Miller. Three of her former undergraduate students relay their own experiences touring the prisons. Each essay, regardless of the author, gives an illuminating look at those serving in prison.
Though the inmates’ stories are personal and heart- wrenching, I couldn’t help but think about the murder victims and their families. One introspective artist did not want to write about the murder that he was convicted of. Without hearing his entire story, it was hard for me to feel as much for him as Dr. Miller does. I also wanted to know how these inmates’ children are doing? Are they doomed to repeat their fathers’ life story? Is there something as a society we can do to help them?
What stuck with me is the need for our society to find solutions to end this cycle of repeat offenses and the revolving doors in and out of our prison system. According to the stories, there is no effective rehabilitation program for youth offenders to combat recidivism. Since violent crime is often caused by addiction and substance abuse, it seems that this would be a good place to start.
Inside Voices will give readers a thought-provoking look into the American prison system. It may also give many an altering view of this important issue.
