Life on the Outside: The Prison Odyssey of Elaine Bartlett

by Jennifer Gonnerman

Life on the Outside tells the story of Elaine Bartlett, who spent sixteen years in Bedford Hills prison for selling cocaine--a first offense--under New York's Rockefeller drug laws. The book opens on the morning of January 26, 2000, when Bartlett is set free and returns to New York City. At 42, she has virtually no money, no job, no real home.

All she does have is a large and troubled family, including four children, who live in a decrepit housing project on the Lower East Side. "I left one prison to come home to another," Elaine says. Over the next months, she clashes with her daughters, hunts for a job, visits her son and husband in prison, negotiates the rules of parole, and campaigns for the repeal of the laws that led to her long prison term.

Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records, "At a time when the prison-industrial complex is destroying African American families and neighborhoods, Elaine Bartlett is more than a she is a heroine. The future of our communities depends on women like her."

Life on the Outside is a 2004 National Book Award Finalist for Nonfiction.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, True Crime, Sociology, Biography, School, Read For School

368 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2004

About the author

Jennifer Gonnerman joined The New Yorker as a staff writer in 2015. She came to the magazine from New York magazine, where she was a contributing editor for seven years. Previously, she was a staff writer at the Village Voice. Her journalism has received numerous prizes, including a Livingston Award for Young Journalists. Her first piece for The New Yorker, “Before the Law,” about a teen-ager who spent three years in jail without a trial, was published in 2014, and was a finalist for the 2015 Pulitzer Award for feature writing. The article also won the John Jay College/Harry F. Guggenheim Award for Excellence in Criminal Justice Reporting. Her first book, “Life on the Outside: The Prison Odyssey of Elaine Bartlett,” was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so happy that I read this book. I think that it is a must, especially for people who work with offenders/ex-offenders after prison. This book has potential to generate a lot of understanding on the parts of people who were never in prison. I learned a lot from this book- about life after prison, about the drug laws that have been devastating our society in unspoken, unacknowledged ways. This is definitely applicable if you're into sociology, criminology or drug laws.

[Jessica White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and more can be found at A Reader's Diary!!

With the holidays coming up, I want you guys to imagine something.
Imagine you're running low on money and just want to make the holiday great, big meal, gifts for everyone. An opportunity arises for you to make a whole lot of cash, FAST. Just carry a little bit of cocaine and you'll make your family so happy when they see the money.
Elaine Bartlett did just that and was sentenced 20-to-life for a drug bust she was barely a part of.
Elaine and her boyfriend Nathan were set up by a guy named Charlie, or George Deets, if you will. Charlie didn't want one of his good friends to go to prison, so he promised a couple of police officers of a drug but that was going to go down. Resulting in the arrests of Elaine and Nathan.
This event is what starts Life on the Outside: The Prison Odyssey of Elaine Bartlett.
Told in 4 separate parts, we follow Elaine through court, prison, clemency, and getting back on her feet. We follow her family who has to deal with their parents being in prison. Trust is broken, bonds are broken, and home will never feel like home again.
After 16 years incarcerated, Elaine finally was released on clemency. She couldn't wait to get home to her babies. But her babies were no longer babies. Her babies had babies!! Apache, her oldest, basically took over the parental role when she was arrested. He grew up into a fine young man. But Jamel... Oh Jamel walked a dangerous line with the law. Throughout the book he continuously finds his way back to Rikers Island.

It hurts to read something like this where family is so broken....
But we are the ones doing this to our society.
I had to read Life on the Outside for my Community Corrections class.
This class has taught me so much! This book has even taught me more than I ever imagined.
Excuse the profanity, but we treat our prisoners like absolute shit.
We're breaking families apart. We're creating a society where kids grow up without parents. Without parents, we're seeing more and more kids become entangled with the law and then wonder why our prisons are overcrowded???
OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE.
These people still need our help, we cannot turn our backs on them when they make a mistake.
They are still people and believe it or not, they will be coming out of prison. They will be joining our society once again. Lets help them before it's too late.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is, wow! In an age when society has begun to assume that the victim is always to blame here comes a raw, emotional journey that will make one take pause concerning the war on drugs and who really pays the ultimate price.

What does society owe to another individual? Do they owe anything at all? How has the Rockefeller Drug Laws in New York State affected millions? How many realize that the real victims are the children and family left behind that tend to spiral in a never ending sea of poverty, crime and drugs just to survive until tomorrow? How does the fact that there is no training or emphasis placed on re-entry into the community? The advent of the internet and public sites that disclose background information, correct or incorrect, impacts where or even if one has the ability to get a decent job or housing that is affordable.

A must read for anyone that wants the honest and gritty truth from the streets. What one women survived to become a voice for the powerless and to affect change that has lasting impact and not just punitive sanctions.

[C'Meijah Donaldson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! I enjoyed reading and Elaine’s story, how she got involved in the system, and the challenges she faced during reentry. I loved being able to see not only how she was impacted but her family as well. Not everyone is fortunate to be granted clemency and have some forms of support once released, so her story is unique. I do wish this book was more from the perspective of Elaine rather than someone else writing her story for her.

[Korra Kalaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read it for school. It was pretty interesting and cool to learn more about the Rockefeller drug laws.

[LibraryCin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elaine Bartlett had never been in trouble with the law, but at 26-years old, she agreed to run some cocaine out of New York City to Albany, so she would have some extra money to pay for a Thanksgiving meal for her large family. It was 1984 - 10 years after the Rockefeller drug laws had been enacted. She and her boyfriend, Nate, who only came to keep Elaine company, were arrested and sentenced under the Rockefeller laws (they had actually been set up by an informant). Elaine was sentenced to 20 years to life, leaving her mother to raise her four young children. After 16 years, she was granted clemency and released back into a world where her family was falling apart. Some were in jail, some had died by now. Elaine wanted to do everything she could to help her family and make things right.

This was very good. It's a world I can't even imagine - a world of poverty and drugs. Not only does the book take you through Elaine's 16 years in prison, it follows her after she is released, trying to help her own family - her sisters and children, some of whom have been in jail, some who are trying to do better, some who are just lazy and don't want to do anything. Their apartment was overcrowded, but no one was working, until Elaine finally found a job, and even that was so low-paying, she couldn't figure out how to get her own place, for her and her kids, which she so desperately wanted. Elaine started public speaking - making speeches about what happened with her and became an activist against the Rockefeller drug laws. She's maybe not the nicest person and doesn't always make the best choices, but she sure was determined to make a better life.

[Sasha Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this in a free library near my phx home. Such a devastating story that thoroughly & intimately chronicled the cycle of poverty and incarceration through the eyes of one woman/family. It was released in 2004 so rather outdated in terms of current policy & political landscape, but the policy lessons and devastation these laws cause remain. It would be hard to read this book and objectively believe in this system and its henchmen.
* 4 stars because I thought the writing was irritatingly cliche at times.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fascinating and disturbing at the same time. Elaine Bartlett was a 26 year old mother of 4 on welfare. A friend of hers -- who was an international drug smuggler, though she did not know this -- offered her $2500 if she would carry 4 oz of cocaine in a package to upstate NY on the train, where he had buyers. Elaine agreed to do this, and her boyfriend Nathan went along with her, just to protect her.

They arrived in Albany, went to the motel to drop off the package, and dozed off on the bed while their drug dealer friend called his supposed buyers. IN fact the "friend" had made an agreement with local police to give them a felony drug bust in exchange for a deal for another associate of his they had in custody.

Thanks to the Rockefeller drug laws requiring minimum sentencing, and Elaine's own ignorance of the law and lack of resources to hire a decent attorney, she received a sentence of 20 years to life for being a drug dealer.

She was bewildered and angered by this injustice. Yes, she made a mistake. Yes, she carried the drugs on the train. But 20 years to life for carrying a package on a train, not even over state lines, while rapists and armed robbers, and the "friend" who smuggled drugs into the country got off with much lighter sentences -- it seems incredible. As of the writing of the book, her boyfriend Nathan -- who truly had NOTHING to do with the drugs or the deal -- had received a 25 year to life sentence just for being in the room, and was still in prison.

Is this fair? Is this justice?

I was appalled by this whole book. It tells the background of the Rockefeller drug laws, as well as Elaine's journey through prison, her fight for clemency (not a pardon, not being found innocent - a commuting of her ridiculous sentence), and most interestingly, her struggles to re-integrate into society as a law abiding citizen with 16 years in prison hanging over her head.

[Katherine Eban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evocative, painful story about the odyssey of Elaine Bartlett, set up by the cops for a drug bust, and years in prison as a result. Gonnerman humanizes everyone she writes about, in a way that few authors can or do.

[Christine Klecman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written book detailing a woman's journey from serving 16 years in prison to coming home to a chaos family and attempting to rebuild for herself and children

[Seymour Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5. Not quite as brilliant as Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, but very much in the same vein.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written narrative about Elaine Bartlett's journey to, through, and out of the prison system. She grew up poor in NYC and was entrapped by law enforcement upstate when an informant offered her $2,500 to bring some drugs to Albany. She had no prior record or arrests, but under the Rockefeller drug laws got a sentence of 20 years to life, of which she served 16. Her boyfriend Nathan was also arrested and served even more time--he was still in prison when the book was published--and he wasn't even directly involved. He just went with Elaine because he was concerned about her safety. Anyway, the book chronicles the havoc Elaine's incarceration wreaked on her children, mother, and extended family, illustrating the generational and cyclical nature of mass incarceration, and how hard it is for formerly incarcerated people to build a life for themselves after being released. Elaine actually manages to be rather successful, given the context. She stays out of prison, keeps a (low paying) job for a few years, and continues to be involved in her family members' lives (although relations are quite fraught). We hear about Nathan now and then--he and Elaine continue to be in each other's lives, but in complicated and heartbreaking ways--but I wish there was a bit more exploration of his own case and how punitive the criminal justice system is toward men in general and Black men especially.

[Adrianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book earned 5 stars from me. Whenever we hear stories of people that have experienced and overcome incarceration, the stories are usually about men. Life on the Outside, tells the true story of Elaine Bartlett. A woman who was presented with an opportunity to make some quick cash right before the holidays. Elaine left her home with rollers in her hair and with all intentions to return home that night. Hours later, she became an inmate in Bedford Hills Federal Prison, serving a 15 to life sentence, under Governor Pataki's "Rockerfeller Drug Laws".

Elaine's story demonstrates the experience of women who have been incarcerated and their struggle to re-acclimate themselves to life on the outside post release. When incarcerated, inmates dream of a beautiful return to home. Elaine's return was far from beautiful, it was a disaster. Family issues, no money, a dirty and unfurnished project apartment, drug addiction, disrespectful children, death and incarceration.

There were so many moments where I thought she would give up. Elaine was tough, she wouldn't allow herself to give up. Years later, Elaine's experience and testimony is helping to inspire the lives of not only those who are overcoming incarceration, but those who work with the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated as well. This is a poignant, but necessary read.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like this was an honest account of a real family's struggles in this society where severe punishments for small scale drug crimes both bolster a politician's career, keep some of the big timers on the streets making lots of money, and punish people like Elaine who are trying to more than just barely scrape by. She wanted to give her family a beautiful Thanksgiving and she made a wrong choice in how to provide that. The punishment was severe, and and her family was crippled by it.

It is a personal story of Elaine that brings out the compassion in the reader. She is an imperfect person. Remember we all are. Given a few different circumstances, Elaine's story could have been any one of ours.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

What was most intriguing about this book was the raw honesty that Elaine Bartlett and her family gave to the writer about the injustices of our system. Yes, she did the crime and yes, she made some rather interesting decisions once she was finally out of jail, but the extent of the challenges that she and her family faced are beyond anything I could cope with and yet, day after day, she moved forward.

[Jaybee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a terrific account of the impact of the Rockefeller drug laws on the criminal justice system, neighborhoods, and individuals in New York state. I found the section of the book that portrayed the challenges that Elaine Bartlett had re-integrating into her family and community particularly powerful.

[Irina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the laws that snare the main character in this book have been dismantled since it was published. But so much more remains -- prisons, poverty, drugs, disinvestment, a million components that work together to maintain a semi-permanent underclass -- and I found it stark and moving, even 13 years after first publish. Also a great lesson in how to do a nonfiction story.

[xomiichellexo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a important read. So often people think that being released from prison means individuals pick up where they left off, that is not the case. This story is about a mother who was failed by the criminal justice system and after being released needs to try to provide for her now teenage/adult children.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the Goodreads summary: Life on the Outside tells the story of Elaine Bartlett, who spent sixteen years in Bedford Hills prison for selling cocaine--a first offense--under New York's Rockefeller drug laws. The book opens on the morning of January 26, 2000, when Bartlett is set free and returns to New York City. At 42, she has virtually no money, no job, no real home.

[Bette Sohm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written. This book gives an accounting of one person's experience in the system. Mostly explores our drug laws, prison systems, parole system. Touches on issues such as racism. Is not preachy, but lays out the facts and experiences of people who are affected by this.

[tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I ever read. It was eye opening to see how deeply the draconian Rockefeller Drug Laws ripped families apart for decades. This is a must read for anyone truly committed to "fixing" America's broken criminal justice system.

[ANDREA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

It held me attention from page 1. A lot of people make incorrect and/or uninformed judgment about incarcerated individuals and this book illustrates that.

[Justin Mumma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very powerful and well written book. Opened my eyes to the deep hurt being caused by America’s drug laws and ‘criminal justice’ system

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary tale of a young woman

[Lenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elaine Bartlett's attempt at a normal existence after being in jail for sixteen years.

[Niel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing's good. The story it is. But I don't think I liked it.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome and upsetting.

[Ania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for a graduate class, still think (and tell EVERYONE) about this book all the time.

[Cierra McKinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true story of a women who did not deserve to spend her life in prison, it is emotional, informational and makes you look at the system a little differently.

[Kathleen Hulser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impact of Rockefeller drug laws through the eyes of a prisoner slapped with a sentence of 20 years for a first time marijuana offense, setup by a police informant who was a major dealer criminal himself. Reveals the strange, skewed criminal justice system, the effects on one person, and the way in which system punishes family and children, over and over again. Gonnerman implicitly raises the question that sensible people must be asking themselves: how is it that the US can feel ok about looking up so many for so long? Why is it that is is politically possible to spend such huge sums to build housing in the form of jails but impossible to build any housing at all in the form of actual homes for people whose incomes are not large enough to afford anything at all? In today's climate, it seems these questions cannot really be posed, yet even in the Christianity saturated parts of the country that seem to advocate the harshest sanctions, one might ask what happened to the idea of redemption at the heart of the message preached by Jesus?

The saga of Elaine Bartlett who got a degree, got out of jail and made a new life, is bittersweet, but allows the story to show what happens in detail at each step. Moving and revealing as we approach the 40th anniversary of the laws that Rockefeller made, in spite of what his own policy analysts told him, to get elected President, an office he was never to hold. Thousands of lives tragically shredded on the altar of that ambition, one ragged one is told here.