Dreams from the Monster Factory

by Sunny Schwartz

Dreams from the Monster Factory tells the true story of Sunny Schwartz's extraordinary work in the criminal justice system and how her profound belief in people's ability to change is transforming the San Francisco jails and the criminals incarcerated there. With an immediacy made possible by a twenty-seven-year career, Schwartz immerses the reader in the troubling and complex realities of U.S. jails, the monster factories -- places that foster violence, rage and, ultimately, better criminals. But by working in the monster factories, Schwartz also discovered her dream of a criminal justice system that empowers victims and reforms criminals.

Charismatic and deeply compassionate, Sunny Schwartz grew up on Chicago's south side in the 1960s. She fought with her family, struggled through school and floundered as she tried to make something of herself. Bucking expectations of failure, she applied to a law school that didn't require a college degree, passed the bar and began her life's work in the criminal justice system. Eventually she grew disheartened by the broken, inflexible system, but instead of quitting, she reinvented it, making jail a place that could change people for the better.

In 1997, Sunny launched the Resolve to Stop the Violence Project (RSVP), a groundbreaking program for the San Francisco Sheriff 's Department. RSVP, which has cut recidivism for violent rearrests by up to 80 percent, brings together victims and offenders in a unique correctional program that empowers victims and requires offenders to take true responsibility for their actions and eliminate their violent behavior.

Sunny Schwartz's faith in humanity, her compassion and her vision are inspiring. In Dreams from the Monster Factory she goes beyond statistics and sensational portrayals of prison life to offer an intimate, harrowing and revelatory chronicle of crime, punishment and, ultimately, redemption.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 6, 2009

Reviews

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an inspirational read! And a quick/easy read. Highly recommended.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the terminology needs to be updated, there are quite a few transexist terms and slurs in the book

[Victoria Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

The entire time I was reading this, I was remembering that not too long ago, deputies were forcing men into gladiator-style fights and betting on the outcomes.

Early in her narrative, Schwartz writes, "Deputy sheriffs had always held the power in the jails. They controlled the culture of the place. If they didn't like you or what you were doing in programs, then you weren't going to succeed. It didn't matter if you had developed a pill that would solve all the prisoners' problems in one swallow. If they thought prisoners were animals who deserved to be treated like garbage, then that's how they were treated."

[Mary MacKintosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a time when we have so much of our population behind bars, this book provides a story of an attempt to get those in prison out of there in a shape where they can stay out--learn coping skills to deal with anger. Sunny Schwartz has her own road to travel toward peace, and that is what makes this book effective: none of us is perfect, and we all have room for improvement. Her prisoners improve, as do their jailers. Justice for all needs mercy and understanding, it seems, to work.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening reading from inner perspective reinforcing facts already known ... Very sad