After the Madness

by Sol Wachtler

Driving down the Long Island Expressway in November of 1992, Sol Wachtler was New York's Chief Judge and heir apparent to the New York Governorship. Suddenly, three van loads of FBI agents swerved in front of him -- bringing his car and his legal career to a halt. Wachtlers subsequent arrest, conviction and incarceration for harassing his longtime lover precipitated a media feeding frenzy, revealing to the world his struggles with romantic obsession, manic-depression and drug abuse. With unflinching honesty, Wachtler draws upon his unique experience of living life on both sides of the bench to paint a chilling portrait of prison life interwoven with a no-holds-barred analysis of the shortcomings of the American legal justice system.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, New York, Biography

320 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 1997

Reviews

[Pat Albu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book. The author was a renowned, respected Chief Judge of New York who, due to mental illness, had an adulterous affair and stalked the woman when she ended it. He was sentenced to over a year in jail, and his memoirs tell the story of his life, his prison experiences and his opinions on sentencing and prison reform. He reflects on how dehumanizing prison is, how too many non-violent offenders are in prison for too long a time, and how mandated sentencing has just added thousands of people to already crowded prisons. There are so many interesting issues on the judicial system that he discusses. His writing is really wonderful, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. Was much like Orange is the New Black but from the perspective of a judge doing time. Quite thought-provoking. Only about 3% of people in American prisons are violent offenders who the public needs to be protected from. So why is there no better solution for the other 97%? Many are people involved in some way with the drug trade, users or sellers, and he has many ideas of better ways to rehabilitate them, rather than locking them away from society.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wachtler not only has a really amazing story to tell, but also has a lot to say about society, jail reform, and plenty else. And, as one would expect from a former Judge, he says it very eloquently.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I don’t like the back and forth on taking responsibility for his actions (because I don’t think mental illness completely excuses stalking and threatening your mistress,) I do think this book did an amazing job at highlighting the issues within our prison and justice system. Many times people truly need psychiatric and rehabilitation treatment, so much money is being wasted housing mentally unwell people who will never be fit for trial. Overall it was a good, fast paced read.

[Tetneges2001 · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this a long time ago...need to re-read.

[Laura Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting memoir with insights on judicial system and incarceration. However, Wachtler is a bit egotistical, though he admits it in his writing. Felt like I was being preached to.

[Sue J · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. It gives a straightforward look at the judicial system.