The American Political Prisoner Reviewed by Reation) .And the Tasks of Carl L.\ Nelson
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BOOKS/LEISURE The American Political Prisoner Reviewed by reation) .and the tasks of discipline (the "hole," reas- Carl L.\ Nelson I . Books signment to the 1 The reviewer is Washing• GOING TO JAIL: The Political Prisoner. By Howard wing of sexual psycho tan editor of the College Prison literature as a Levy, M.D. and. David Miller. PraS Service. whole, including this book, (Grove, 243 $6.00) still lacks a detailing a the `' America's federal prisons this regard, jLevy and Miller their experiences - in the experience of the most for are model penal institutions. point out tthhat federal pris- Lewisburg Federal Prison gotten of prisoners—wanes. Today they are less ons for men are little differ- and farm• camp and the , As one woman in crowded, have better food ent than other penal institu- lenwood farm camp, both in County Jail in Ft. auder- and accommodations, em- tions. Federal prisons may Pennsylvania, and the dale said last year, "we ploy higher qualified and replace physical brutality United States Disciplinary smell each other, we know better paid guards, and min- with behavioral psychology, Barracks in Kansas for ma. each other. Once a month imise physical brutality to but the sad truth is that terial for the book. we get-to shave our legs and keep inmates 'cooperative— correctional philosoPby- The Authors have two once a week we get to 'wretch but that is not saying much. and on the state and mili- aims: to give to the general televisien., But that's about Authors. Howard Levy and tary levels, correctional ,fa- reader "a camel:41141 frame- it." Day after day. Tear David *Her would not go cilities and techniques—bas work through which those after year. Even in the re- back to"Altem in witness to progressed little from the who have never been in port of the Commission on any cause without a fight black holes of. British deb- prison can comprehend and Law Enforcement and the because, like state and local tors' prisons that drove then challenge the prison Administration' of Justice— facgities, ere, to use Many inhabitants to North system," and to provide' a the most massive statement the words of Soledad American shores in,the first handbook for white radicals ever published on crime and Brotherlideta Drumgo, place. and liberals who may end corrections in Ameriee- "barbarie; cOgressive, racist Levy was imprisoned June up as political prisoners, an there is no chapter or para- and murders institutions:" 2, 1967, after conviction for increasingly real, possibility. graph devoted to the koala Aceording Ite'T.itoing to-Jag: refusing to train U.S. Army Within the limited aims of "offender." The Political' Prisoner;" the Special 'Forces medics the book, it does well, out- "Giing to Jail," is eon- bode federal- Program for bound for Vietnam duty. He lining in a series of concise vincing in arguing that the rehabilitation is still .eoer4" contended that it violated chapters what happens in system of prison admthistia- don, and the' resitit 'is 'shit; his medical ethics. Miller's the various areas of prison ton loth "no socially ra Wed lives and increasing name saw headlines across life, how a new prisoner fits deeming value and ought .. Aatred. the country at about the into the truncated prison . to be abolished." But "a so- Ter any penal system to same time when he burned society, and how prison ad- ciety which has not found rehabilitate prisoners rather his draft card at the Sheeps ministrators orchestrate the the courage and the means than institutionalize socie- Meadow demonstration in inmate's actions through the to break its own shacklesti ty's vengeance, it must first Central Park. He was con- carrots of privilege ("good in no position to break these guarantee its inmates self- victed and served 22 time" toward parole .or re- it has placed upon its 'de- respect and due process, in mouths. Both men draw on lease, reading tooterial, rec- viant' members." .