Games Criminals Play: How You Can Profit by Knowing Them

by Bud Allen, Diana Bosta

Have you ever done anything you didn't really want to do? Have you ever had that 'gut-level feeling' that something was wrong but couldn't put your finger on it? These games are perfected in prison, but are games everyone should know.

Here - for the first time, is a book that - For correctional employees, provides one of the most effective tools for the behavior control of prisoners. For the public, exposes the scam or fraud and teaches how to recognize and prevent the processes criminals apply in society. This is a non-technical book that anyone can understand and use in his or her daily life.

"Games Criminal Play, and How You Can Profit By Knowing Them" is a very important book. Almost daily one reads in the newspapers of various scams perpetrated on the American public. It is a unique book; no one else has revealed before this, the anatomy or structure, of set-ups, or criminals' plots. The cases in this book are not only informative, but intensely interesting.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Sociology, True Crime, Crime, Amazon, Self Help

228 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1981

Reviews

[Ellis Amdur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Among many in the corrections field, this is known as "The Yellow Book" The slang dates the book, and so does some of the psychology and rehabilitation theory that frames it in the forward and afterwards. There is not enough cognizance of power-dynamics regarding correctional officers and female inmates. It is not all that well-written.

BUT – this book is absolutely dead-center when describing criminal cons. The setting for most of the book is prison, but it equally applies in the outside world. Graphically shows how the psychopath uses some of your best qualities (empathy, a desire to help, for example) as the leverage to gain power. Don’t consider working in a corrections setting or law enforcement unless you’ve read this!

[Louis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an especially fun read, but very interesting. The core mechanics of a set up (con) are systematically listed and dissected and that was valuable and fascinating.

What detracts from this as a book is mostly to do with how it is written rather than what it says. It is at times repetitive and the syntax can be quite peculiar. An example:

"These opposites are incongruously exaggerated in the paranoid thinking and causes the creation of diabolical schemes"

The repetition makes it read like the authors shuffled a lot of the paragraphs around, so for example you get a quasi introduction or even sales pitch for the book about 3/4 of the way through.

Also the case studies, surely the most interesting part of the book, are weirdly constructed so the consequences are not always shown, or irrelevant detail is included.

At the very end the point is made that the outlined set up process can operate outside of prison too, although the vast majority of the book is centred on a custodial setting.

I should also say, it is about 40 years old and some of it's social attitudes seem to be rooted in that era, so bear that in mind. An example : it is suggested that a woman who is asked for sex by a prisoner should, if asking for time to think or screaming fails, faint. I think that is probably not wise.

Reading my review back, I realise that this sounds like a dreadful book, but it is really unusual in how it approaches the anatomy of a con.

In summary;brilliant concepts presented clumsily.

[Coleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was probably about twenty years ago when I first read this book. I was starting work in a prison and had been advised that it would be very helpful to me. It certainly was.

But when I read it again this past week, long removed from being employed in a prison, I found it just as helpful as it had been twenty years ago. Anyone can be manipulated in any circumstances, by anyone; and anyone can get trapped by a con artist. All one need do to confirm this to watch the nightly news which is full of stories of 'everyday folk' getting taken.

It happens over and over. Knowing the obvious signs and keeping one's guard UP is key. Set-ups, plots, schemes, scams, frauds, racquets...whatever one wants to call them, they abound everywhere. Recognize the warning signs to stay ahead of the GAME!

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first and basic handbook for Correctional Professionals enabling them to avoid manipulation by inmates. Based on the information gleaned from this manuscript and experience working in the Criminal Justice System, I developed a training course entitled "Con Games - Avoiding Inmate Manipulation" for the Basic Correctional Academy.

[The dust on your bookshelf and bookends · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s crazy how manipulation can occur so easily in prisons. I know I’ll probably never work as a prison guard, so I’m not going to be around prisoners at all. But it’s still important to know and be self aware enough to realize that you’re actually being manipulated into something you don’t want to do. One part of the book I liked was the part where some of requirements of being a nice person in society, are more weaknesses in the prison setting. Remember to not be a duck, but you can be a goose. :)

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been working as a volunteer in a local Prison for 2 years. This book is recommended as a "must read" for everyone who interacts with incarcerated people. Just now having read it, I totally agree. It's a great read and opened my eyes to the little errors that are so easy to make both within the walls and outside. It is good to have lines that are never to be crossed. Psychological games and how you can profit - for your own safety.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very educational. I read this as part of preparing for a job working with parolees, and although the book was geared toward workers within correctional facilities (with a very few mentions of how it works outside of prison) I learned a lot. It's a very easy read as well.

I'd like to see an update though!

[Adrienna · Rating 2 out of 5]

IT was a bit drawn out and boring for the most part. However, there are many parts that can be useful and helpful via scenarios, and of course, real life incidents that can take place where one can easily be victimized and lose your job for helping/supporting inmates with their trickery schemes.

I can now return this to a co-worker this Monday after finally finding the time to read it.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slightly dumbfounding for most civilians one would imagine; incredibly informative and at times shocking.
Grateful this work is a book and not a film as graphic re-enactments would likely prove quite disturbing to those untrained in law enforcement and matters of community safety and compliance.

Well-written and flows evenly. Case studies provide compelling and novel material for those previously unexposed to this milieu. Author describes situations objectively and with a high degree of neutrality versus other instructional pieces of writing on this topic which at times contain undertones of hostility and resentment. This author’s message and depictions aren’t muddled or biased in the slightest.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written specifically for corrections officers, but recommended to me to help understand and deal with antisocial or manipulative psychiatry patients. A majority of the information is applicable, and I picked up some useful tips on how to spot and end attempted manipulation. However, the text suffers for having to talk at a level appropriate for its intended audience and it’s very dated.

Useful for a psychiatrist, but there are plenty of higher yield books out there. I only read this a year after it was recommended because I was dealing with a particularly manipulative inpatient, and I don’t think I would have gotten as much out of it if I hadn’t read it in that context.

[Lucas Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having just entered into corrections back in May, I finally found time to sit down every week and read this book. I found it to be very informative and on point when it comes to interacting daily with offenders. The case studies were great as well and made you think what would you do in that situation. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in corrections and even to the average person looking to understand certain people better.

[averi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

I got this book to learn something new, and to help my insomnia--both of which this book did. This was not a book i was dying to pick up but it was interesting to hear more about the prison system. And wow this book did WONDERS for me on the nights i couldnt sleep.

Id only recommend someone read this book if they were involved in the prison system, wanted to know how it works, or wants a good night sleep haha

[Bobbi Jo]

Up to a point this book is interesting but all of the case studies are basically ridiculous to me. I've seen things that tell me inmates turn employees, I just can't even fathom the naiveté of the people described in these stories, though.
Working in a prison or with inmates requires healthy boundaries, recognizing that there is a system in place to meet any of their legitimate needs, and a tiny bit of understanding of the how that system works.

[Grace Martinka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed accounts of the (long-term) manipulation process on both the prison environment and the free world. Eye opening Indeed, as a correctional officer myself, I realized patterns that have been used on me in the past, luckily that never succeeded. I now feel more confident in my profession, I know that I can detect the steps of a set-up in the earlier stages because of the recognition process I learned from reading this.

Very informative, and engaging.

[DirtyD · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was suggested from experts in my career. It didn’t shine much light on social scientists working in a prison as much as correctional officers who come into contact with inmates. While I could find patterns that apply to anyone working with criminals, it’s really a niche topic for a specific relationship between inmate and CO. Also the word use is quite dated which makes the lessons hard to envision in today’s day.

[Russ Kaminski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a new job as a correctional center teacher and my boss had me read this. Outdated but still an interesting insight into human nature and behavior. However, a co-worker told me to “read it, then forget it,” so we’ll see whether it comes in handy.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting in parts, clinical throughout, this book is an excellent resource for anyone working with a criminal population. If you work in corrections or psychiatric forensics this is a good place to start.

[James Esser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening book. As someone who has zero experience in this field, and my career starts in a few short weeks…this gave me a more broad understanding of the mind and interactions.

Recommend to the everyday reader as well

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I utilize this book for my PREA courses. It exposes all of the relevant 'tricks of the trade'. My class and I particularly enjoyed the suggested responses section! I'm writing a new curriculum for an advanced PREA course designed on this book.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent material for anyone working criminals or former inmates in re-entry programs.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that will help me in my work in residential addiction treatment where a number of our clients have criminal histories. I recommend it to all new employees in this field!!

[Jesse Tilley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book has a lot of fluff and only needed to be 20 pages long. The way it was written was dry and condescending. Do not recommend.

[Jil Slegh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for a correctional officer!

[Antonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting perspective on manipulation which I think can be applied to real life and anybody working in mental health and as the book says, working in corrections.

[Kora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the info and set up steps still apply. But, I wish a section could be added with some more modern examples, specifically of how technology has come into play. Overall, its still a solid read.

[Kyle Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book to show the inner workings of working in a prison or rehab.

[Lauren Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful and informative!

[Jarrod Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF - Fairly good at opening up the conversation about the experiences of inmates.

[Kayla Briggs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read for work, still counting it though!

[Larisa Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might not be for everyone, but for those with an interest entering any type of work in forensics it's a must read. It's an old book but the concepts are still very relevant.