The Return of Joe Prison

M.D. “Doc” Bass56130Rahway PrisonLockbag RRahway, NJ 07065“…but if the plant is sown and reared in the wrong soil, it will develop every contrary defect…”(Socrates)In spite of the desperate hope… More

A Philosophy of Corrections

At no time in my memory, and especially at no time within the limits of my professional career, have crime and corrections been the subjects of intelligent as well… More

The Attitudes of Jazz

In the year 1619 the lively musical spirits of West Africa, the poetic chants of ritual dancers, the rhythmic beats of talking tom-toms were all the cultural expressions of… More

Lend Us Your Ears Tax-Payers

Beloved Readers:Peering about this functionally effective concentration camp of Humanity, at the gigantic evils perpetrated against us/you as a people, A tax-paying people, by the designers of Penal Habitations… More

Rest Home

each morning is the same they wake her she risks a stretch and forecasts rain it is routine she is readied for the wait More

Night Music

Night MusicTonight in Cellblock Threesomeone is playing Mozart.Sweeter than tangerines the music risesabove the sound of all four showersby the guard stationIt is summer at the end of a… More

Pidgin

Patrick O’Neil30832-ABox CWaupun, WI 53963 PidginAgainst the patterned vision I bendstretchLeaning to watchA feathery bird come to mock my untidy cage.Scoot-walking along a windowsill about ten feet away,making strange vanishing… More