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Beyond Bars by Jeffrey Ian Ross, Stephen C. Richards 1st (first) edition [Paperback(2009)]
Excellent Book
- GenresNonfictionSelf Help
Paperback
First published July 7, 2009
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About the author
Jeffrey Ian Ross
46 books4 followersJeffrey Ian Ross, Ph.D. is a Professor in the School of Criminal Justice, College of Public Affairs, and a Research Fellow of the Center for International and Comparative Law, and the Schaefer Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore. He has been a Visiting Professor at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany, and University of Padua, Italy.
He has researched, written, and lectured primarily on corrections, policing, political crime, state crime, crimes of the powerful, violence, street culture, and crime and justice in American Indian communities for over two decades. Ross’ work has appeared in many academic journals and books, as well as popular media. He is the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of several books including the ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK OF STREET CULTURE (2021).
Ross is a respected subject matter expert for local, regional, national and international news media. He has made live appearances on CNN, CNBC, Fox News Network, MSNBC, and NBC. Additionally Ross has written op-eds for The (Baltimore) Sun, the Baltimore Examiner, The (Maryland) Daily Record, The Gazette, The Hill, Inside Higher Ed, and The Tampa Tribune.
From 1995-1998, Ross was a Social Science Analyst with the National Institute of Justice, a Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2003, he was awarded the University of Baltimore’s Distinguished Chair in Research Award. Ross is the co-founder of Convict Criminology, and former co-chair/chair of the Division on Critical Criminology and Social Justice (2014-2017), of the American Society of Criminology. In 2018, Ross was given the Hans W. Mattick Award, “for an individual who has made a distinguished contribution to the field of Criminology & Criminal Justice practice,” from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2020, he received the John Howard Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ Division of Corrections. The award is the ACJS Corrections Section’s most prestigious award, and was given because of his “outstanding research and service to the field of corrections.” During the early 1980s, Jeff worked almost four years in a correctional institution.
He has researched, written, and lectured primarily on corrections, policing, political crime, state crime, crimes of the powerful, violence, street culture, and crime and justice in American Indian communities for over two decades. Ross’ work has appeared in many academic journals and books, as well as popular media. He is the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of several books including the ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK OF STREET CULTURE (2021).
Ross is a respected subject matter expert for local, regional, national and international news media. He has made live appearances on CNN, CNBC, Fox News Network, MSNBC, and NBC. Additionally Ross has written op-eds for The (Baltimore) Sun, the Baltimore Examiner, The (Maryland) Daily Record, The Gazette, The Hill, Inside Higher Ed, and The Tampa Tribune.
From 1995-1998, Ross was a Social Science Analyst with the National Institute of Justice, a Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2003, he was awarded the University of Baltimore’s Distinguished Chair in Research Award. Ross is the co-founder of Convict Criminology, and former co-chair/chair of the Division on Critical Criminology and Social Justice (2014-2017), of the American Society of Criminology. In 2018, Ross was given the Hans W. Mattick Award, “for an individual who has made a distinguished contribution to the field of Criminology & Criminal Justice practice,” from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2020, he received the John Howard Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ Division of Corrections. The award is the ACJS Corrections Section’s most prestigious award, and was given because of his “outstanding research and service to the field of corrections.” During the early 1980s, Jeff worked almost four years in a correctional institution.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 12, 2009
In Beyond Bars, Jeffrey Ross and Stephen Richard give good practical advice in a straight forward style.
The main focus of this book is on the days and months right after release from prison. It also includes information on preparing for life after prison starting long before release and has three good appendixes to guide you to sources of help.
If you or someone you know you know will be transitioning from prison to life outside, read this book to avoid the pitfalls that send so many people back to prison.
The main focus of this book is on the days and months right after release from prison. It also includes information on preparing for life after prison starting long before release and has three good appendixes to guide you to sources of help.
If you or someone you know you know will be transitioning from prison to life outside, read this book to avoid the pitfalls that send so many people back to prison.
January 15, 2020
Quite a bit seems to be out of date. I wish there was an updated edition.
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June 23, 2020 I read Beyond Bars which is a sort of guide for people in prison on how to survive in society after they have served their time in prison. The authors are Jeffery Ross and Stephen Richards. Jeffery Ross got his prison experience by working at a prison while Stephen Richards got his experience by being in one, and I don't think it was just so he could write this book. After getting out of prison, Richards joined Ross by getting his PhD in criminal justice and they first wrote a book called Behind Bars, which dealt with how to survive while locked up in a prison. I hope I never have to read that one out of necessity...
So Beyond Bars discusses a lot of issues that come up after leaving such a strict institution and having to deal with society on your own again. They talk about many different situations, like what responsibilities you have now that you didn't in prison, the best kinds of halfway houses, how to deal with your parole officer and even such topics as Family, Love and Sex as it specifically relates to people just getting out of prison. There are also sections that almost anyone could find helpful because they deal with money and debt and even how to grow your own garden.
The problem I had with this book was that at times it seemed out of touch with reality, here are my two favorite quotes. This one is in the section where they talk about how to get enrolled in a college and how you can suffer prejudice by being an ex-convict, "One door after another will be slammed in your face. At least if you know that door is going to be closed in your face, you might catch it in your hand before it breaks your nose. Who knows, you might even kick it in with your boot." I'm not sure if they're talking about physical doors or just "lost opportunity doors", but the authors suggest you just start kicking down doors wherever you find them. Probably not great advice for ex-convicts.
One other example of this strange way of writing is when they suggest not owning a car in your name because the following might happen, "the next thing you know, six or more of the city's finest are standing over you with guns drawn, batons ready, taser weapons charging." There were many times when I felt like the authors had no idea what they were talking about, but on the other hand they do have doctorates. Overall there was a lot of good information for almost anyone who is just joining American society. Like how to avoid internet scams, and payday loan businesses.
This book relates to my service because I interact with people on a daily basis that have the experiences that this book covers. It's hard to know how to react when someone you just met says they don't have a lot of time because they have a curfew at their halfway house. Reading this book gave me some understanding of the things people with criminal backgrounds have to go through. It was interesting to see what two authors with PhD.'s in criminal justice thought about life after prison. I would suggest that if you don't know anything about how ex-convicts join society that you should read this book. Plus there are a lot of ridiculous things said which you can't help but laugh at.
Just one more quote for any aspiring jewel thieves out there, "In many ways, jewel thieves are probably the most adept at hiding loot. They usually fence some of their take and hide the rest for a rainy day. Their big advantage is that gemstones are small, easy to hide, and impervious to wet ground." There you have it, straight from two Doctors of Criminal Science.
So Beyond Bars discusses a lot of issues that come up after leaving such a strict institution and having to deal with society on your own again. They talk about many different situations, like what responsibilities you have now that you didn't in prison, the best kinds of halfway houses, how to deal with your parole officer and even such topics as Family, Love and Sex as it specifically relates to people just getting out of prison. There are also sections that almost anyone could find helpful because they deal with money and debt and even how to grow your own garden.
The problem I had with this book was that at times it seemed out of touch with reality, here are my two favorite quotes. This one is in the section where they talk about how to get enrolled in a college and how you can suffer prejudice by being an ex-convict, "One door after another will be slammed in your face. At least if you know that door is going to be closed in your face, you might catch it in your hand before it breaks your nose. Who knows, you might even kick it in with your boot." I'm not sure if they're talking about physical doors or just "lost opportunity doors", but the authors suggest you just start kicking down doors wherever you find them. Probably not great advice for ex-convicts.
One other example of this strange way of writing is when they suggest not owning a car in your name because the following might happen, "the next thing you know, six or more of the city's finest are standing over you with guns drawn, batons ready, taser weapons charging." There were many times when I felt like the authors had no idea what they were talking about, but on the other hand they do have doctorates. Overall there was a lot of good information for almost anyone who is just joining American society. Like how to avoid internet scams, and payday loan businesses.
This book relates to my service because I interact with people on a daily basis that have the experiences that this book covers. It's hard to know how to react when someone you just met says they don't have a lot of time because they have a curfew at their halfway house. Reading this book gave me some understanding of the things people with criminal backgrounds have to go through. It was interesting to see what two authors with PhD.'s in criminal justice thought about life after prison. I would suggest that if you don't know anything about how ex-convicts join society that you should read this book. Plus there are a lot of ridiculous things said which you can't help but laugh at.
Just one more quote for any aspiring jewel thieves out there, "In many ways, jewel thieves are probably the most adept at hiding loot. They usually fence some of their take and hide the rest for a rainy day. Their big advantage is that gemstones are small, easy to hide, and impervious to wet ground." There you have it, straight from two Doctors of Criminal Science.
September 1, 2024
"Beyond Bars" by Jeffrey Ian Ross and Stephen C. Richards offers a practical guide for individuals reentering society after incarceration. Their focus on the social and psychological aspects of reentry is particularly valuable for understanding the barriers that can lead to recidivism. In my book, "Reducing Recidivism: A Comprehensive Guide," I also explore these challenges, providing strategies for addressing the root causes of reoffending and supporting successful reintegration. Ross and Richards’ work is an excellent companion to my own, offering practical advice that aligns with the holistic approach I advocate for in reducing recidivism.
December 26, 2023
DNF. Not what I expected, more of a guidebook on what to do when you get out of prison.
November 14, 2009
Good solid, realistic source for reentry to society after imprisonment, jail time or for people coping with probation. Addresses everything from kids' embarrassment about their parent to the probabtion system, custody issues and how not to violate probabtion. Addresses encounters with spouse (and former), money issues, ramifications of different choices of places to live. LOTS of stuff I'd never considered before, like maybe not getting custody of the kids til after off probabtion because an angry spouse could file bogus abuse charges just to create a probabtion violation=back in jail, and how the post office won't forward anything to a jail, so all bill resolution problems, forms, and legal paperwork must be hand carried in, or it waits til the person is out and has an address again. Excellent resource with appendix of organizations.
April 3, 2015
A sociology teacher I had recommended these books to me years ago and now I'm just getting to them. I did not like how this spoke to you like you were a prisoner but that's just me being silly probably. I agree with many points that our society needs to focus more on helping prisoners re-enter society rather than just throwing them back out there leaving them with very little options, if any.
August 26, 2013
Decent step-by-step roadmap of pre- to post-release. I like the no-nonsense tone, the organized layout of issues, and the concise chapter divisions.
That said, I'm bothered by the gender and age-based stereotypes in every chapter. I know there's truth to most stereotypes, but the lack of nuance bugs me.
That said, I'm bothered by the gender and age-based stereotypes in every chapter. I know there's truth to most stereotypes, but the lack of nuance bugs me.
June 17, 2016
Blunt, direct, informative. Exactly what I thought, no rehabilitation BEHIND bars, then expected to make it once out. So backwards! REFORM is badly needed.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews