Mr. Smith Goes to Prison: What My Year Behind Bars Taught Me About America's Prison Crisis

by Jeff Smith

The fall from politico to prisoner isn't necessarily long, but the landing, as Missouri State Senator Jeff Smith learned, is a hard one.

In 2009, Smith lied to the Feds about seemingly minor campaign malfeasance and earned himself a year and a day in Kentucky's FCI Manchester. Mr. Smith Goes to Prison is the fish-out-of-water story of his time in the big house; of the people he met there and the things he learned: how to escape the attentions of fellow inmates, like a tattooed Klansman and his friends in the Aryan Brotherhood; what constitutes a prison car and who's allowed to ride in yours; how to bend and break the rules, whether you're a prisoner or an officer. And throughout his sentence, the senator tracked the greatest crime of all: the deliberate waste of untapped human potential.

Smith saw the power of millions of inmates harnessed as a source of renewable energy for America's prison-industrial complex, a system that aims to build better criminals instead of better citizens. In Mr. Smith Goes to Prison, he traces the cracks in America's prison walls, exposing the shortcomings of a racially based cycle of poverty and crime. Smith blends a wry sense of humor with academic training, political acumen, and insights from his year on the inside. He offers practical solutions to jailbreak the nation from the financially crushing grip of its own prisons and to jump-start the rehabilitation of the millions living behind bars.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Memoir, Sociology, United States, Race, Justice

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

A former Democratic member of the Missouri Senate, representing the 4th district from 2007 until 2009, Smith is an Assistant Professor of Politics and Advocacy at the New School's Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy in New York City. He has also been a contributing writer for Politico, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Atlantic, Buzzfeed, and other news sources; and he was the the subject of the 2006 documentary Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?

Smith previously spent a year in federal prison after pleading guilty to two felony counts of conspiracy related to his involvement with the organization Voters for Truth's negative advertisements against former U.S. Representative Russ Carnahan in 2004.

Reviews

[Trevor Cornwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book through and through in one reading. It first takes you through a victory and some mistakes that take on a life of its own and hard to imagine. The insights--and the waste--into prison life are both mesmerizing and painful. Jeff's prescription for how we can do better are not pious or pedantic. They flow from a very well told story.

[amf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished early release copy. While it is tagged as literature to help support prison reform, one need not worry about policy jargon. It is a highly readable account of one man's venture into a world where the rules are very different from the outside. Jeff Smith helps to put a face on a forgotten faction of our society...glad he shared it with the masses.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not often you get a peek behind the bars of a prison. Prison should make sense-especially when you hit a minimum security facility and it doesn't -- at least in this KY institution. It was horrifying that people's true strengths (and we all have them) aren't being nurtured in a setting like this--these men were all close to being released to join the rest of us--with no marketable skills.

They had a guy like Smith and should have taken advantage of his teaching ability for the good of all of us--and they didn't even try. When these guys are released the deck is already stacked against them--may as well train them in something they can make money at when they get out--which wasn't being done here.

All in all this book makes you think about something that most of us don't give a second thought to. Very easy and engaging read--I was really disturbed by this book and in the last chapter Smith mentions a volume two--I'd love that-- I want to know what becomes of these people.

[Jennifer Stringer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-4 stats. As a St. Louisan, Jeff Smith helped to hone my supremely cynical attitude toward politicians. I remember his campaigns and always appreciated his views regarding the broken St. Louis school system. When it turned out he was another crooked politician with broken moral barometer, it only served to further my distrust of those attempting to improve our lot. What's in it for them after all? It was very interesting to read his version of what went down, as he describes prison reform from his unique perspective as an inmate. The colossal amount of waste described is staggering considering the recidivism rate. I sincerely hope he can be a force for change in this area.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It actually didn't take me as long to finish the book as it looks - I just wanted to read the epilogue and acknowledgements and give it my full attention. This book sucks you in from the get go and takes you on a surprising trip from the trenches of grassroots state and local urban politics to the cold, hopeless reality of a federal penitentiary. I'll admit I chose to read this book because I work with Jeff (and had followed his quick political rise and fall over social media and local news), but I think readers who have no prior knowledge of him and his career would be equally enthralled. Given the growing attention in our country on the incredible problems with mass incarceration (primarily of black males), this book offers an often frustrating view of life behind bars. And not just of life, but of the unbalanced manner in which individuals find themselves there via our courts system. Sprinkled throughout, Smith offers practical solutions to problems with incarceration both large and small, both costly and free, both easily implemented and requiring of major political and legal reform. So while the story of the individuals can feel hopeless, the book does offer some hope that change is possible, and the vast waste of human capital behind bars (and taxpayer resources, to boot), could perhaps be tamed.

One criticism is that the book does not offer much in the way of discussion regarding the victims of the criminals who are behind bars, and there was an allusion I couldn't forget - a brief mention of the fact that some men in the federal prison Jeff was sentenced to may be serving time for "non violent" offenses...but of their own admission (or allusion) to fellow prisoners, they simply hadn't been caught committing more dangerous or violent crimes. I understand the importance of the book's focus on justice reform (and putting the correction back into the correctional facility), but I do think that the most vocal critics to any real reform would take the angle of victim's advocate (sincere or quite possibly not, which is a tough one to fight.

That said, this was an eye-opening, page-turning tale that I certainly won't forget, and which will encourage me to do more in my own life and career to fight for programs that assist former inmates in regaining some sense of their humanity, opportunity, and optimism after they serve their time. Or perhaps even in lieu of time behind bars, and rather in a productive and rehabilitative manner that would truly benefit society, families, and individuals who may otherwise be forgotten or brushed aside as hopeless cases.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that provides a valuable perspective on the criminal justice system. I hope this book catalyzes much needed reform.

This country needs to decide what the objective of the justice system should be: deterrence, retribution/punishment, restitution, future protection (of society), rehabilitation/behavior modification, or some combination thereof, and then restructure the system to meet those objectives. As it is now, the entire system is a mess. An expensive, vicious mess. And that is putting it kindly.

And then layered on top of this mess is the prison-industrial complex of self-interest conjoined with typical political government bloat, cronyism and ineptitude. From his unique perspective as a politician turned convict, Jeff Smith highlights where some of the problems are and some of what needs to be changed. What we are doing now is nuts.

Even though Smith is a mainstream lefty Democrat (with snippets of liberal orthodoxy sprinkled throughout the book), I appreciated his even-handed critique of politicians and party apparatus on both sides of the aisle, particularly in the final chapter.

On top of every thing else, this book is an easy read and entertaining, although I kind of hate to say "entertaining" because we are talking real people's lives and real tragedies here. Nonetheless, there are often moments of humor in even the most grim situations. Smith captures some of those moments well.

As a bonus, for those who like to read about the art of politicking and campaigning, the first part of the book tells how Smith nearly won a US House seat against a Democratic party insider and how he did win a seat in the Missouri Senate in a demographically unfriendly district. Good stuff there, too.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having previously read several books regarding the current state of the criminal justice system in America, particularly Orange is the New Black, while I am still rather skeptical of a story written by a politician specifically known for lying, which is why he went to prison in the first place, it rings true when compared to many other stories.

Orange is the New Black is a woman's perspective from a women's prison camp, while this is the perspective from a minimum security men's prison, which from what I understand is a small step up in security level from the prison camp, although I may be wrong. I was very curious about Smith's experience as contrast to Kerman's, to see if men's and women's prisons are different. At least the way these two books are written, the men's prison does indeed seem to be a more dangerous, violent place, but not necessarily for the reasons those outside the gates might imagine.

Smith provides insight into prison culture and the continued issues with lack of rehabilitation and rather just a focus on punishment that merely perpetuates generations of incarcerated persons and families. It's very sobering and should make every American demand reforms, while understanding that it will not be an overnight fix. Decades of laws have gone into making the prison system what it is today, and it will probably require the same to get back out of it. But we have to start and we have to start now, because the current trajectory is simply unsustainable. Our prisons are nightmares and until it begins to matter to those with power (namely, voters) it will simply not change.

[Leftbanker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A total must-read for every forward-thinking American. If you don’t think that our criminal justice system is completely flawed, then this is the book for you.

A progressive liberal who was out to protect his poorest constituents is jailed after a five year investigation into a fairly not-shit campaign violation makes one wonder about our legal system. He went to jail, actual hard time for what seems to any sane person to be a minor infraction.

Then he goes to prison and that place is full of black men who made the same mistakes of lots of white men who never find the police at their door. These are mostly drug offenses which carry heavier penalties when they are the drugs used by black people (crack) than the drugs used by whites (powder cocaine). The fact that so many people are locked up for drug offenses is a scandal in itself, not to mention a horrible waste of our nation's resources.

[Jeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just another report on the crime that is our current prison system. Rather, this is a well-written and easy to read memoir of a young and privileged white man who had to serve a year in prison (and not a 'country club' prison) for mistakes he made while pursuing public office. He was fortunate to have skills (he could play basketball with anyone), which helped him survive within the mostly black prison population. Additionally, he was 'punished' and put on the most difficult work assignment, where he was able to prove himself to and learn from his fellow laborers. If you're not familiar with the injustices first in court and then in the penal system, you will be after reading this. Hearing stories from someone to whom I could directly relate (being white and middle class) infuriated me even more than I already was. Envision myself in the same situation -- and knowing how easily it could happen if my skin were a shade or two darker -- was frightening. My game's not so good. It spurred me to action (small though it is), and may do the same to you.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff, you are a truly inspiring individual. You take responsibility for your actions (I think those charges were ridiculous) and somehow manage to not just survive prison but claim to be a better person for it and undertake the prison system as a cause. It's all very impressive. Maine doesn't send nearly as many people to prison as other states do (probably because the population is so old!) but it is still depressing to think about how prison is just a path to recidivism and these institutions lack compassion and constructive programming. I keep thinking about the woman that the Pope asked for her death sentence to be commuted - she got a degree and all sorts of things in prison. Why does this happen in one institution but not in others? Why does someone on death row get opportunities but someone who is actually going to go back out into the world get nothing? This is also a well written and enjoyable book. I listened to it and the narration by the author is just terrific. It's heartfelt, the timing is great, and the accents are well done.

[Joanne Otto · Rating 4 out of 5]

But for the overuse of epithets and the unnecessary inclusion of irrelevant but embarrassing details, I'd have given this book five stars. It reveals, in a most engaging and insightful way, the weaknesses of the American prison system, its enormous financial cost to our taxpayers, and its devastating (and in many cases needless) emotional cost to the prisoners and their families. Smith's use of street language when writing dialogue with inmates gave the book a ring of authenticity for me (though it has been suggested that it could be offensive to those who use such language.) What I object to is his use of four-letter words in the narrative. Nevertheless, as a jail volunteer, I found it a very valuable read.

[Ay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engrossing read. Smith's take on the US prison system includes his own story and the prevailing academic literature. It is very readable. I grew to care about the guys he befriended. His suggestions for helping people once they are released from prison are interesting.

I really enjoyed his social commentary. I hope he writes a lot more.

My only issue I have with him and his book is his propensity for basketball and to a lesser extent, softball. He did go on about it a bit too much for my liking.

Oh, and he includes 10 tips for neophyte prisoners. If you know someone who might be going down, they should read this book.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far, far too many of our fellow citizens have served time in prison when alternative sentencing would have served them and us better. Many of them have written books about their experiences but few with the abilities of Mr. Smith. He did not serve much time but he brings multiple talents and experiences to this book: a former public officials who had worked on criminal justice issues; a rare ability to connect with and befriend people very different from himself; a PhD scholar with the ability to place these experiences in their broader context; and, crucially, an impressive ability to bring it together in a well written and engaging book.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never read nonfiction, just doesn't hold my interest. I saw this book at the library and picked it up, and once I started reading I was hooked! Very well written, and an interesting look at what prison looks like. I too thought there were "country club" prisons for low level/white collar offenders, and was surprised to read what conditions were really like. Be ready to be mad about how me are "rehabilitating" offenders, in a system which is custom made to make sure they return, and be ready to put that anger to work to make changes!

[Pam Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the trial by fire edginess of the description of the "intro to prison" experience. I felt the frank and honest way the author told the story of getting sucked into the prison system could be a start of reform discussions. A mile in the shoes of a prisoner is worth a thousand debates - a good read.

[Adam Schwadron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very quick and easy read. Storytelling keeps you engrossed in the book. Opens your eyes to what is happening on the inside without TV or movie dramas embellishing some details of it. I hope there is a public policy follow-up to this book that will list out and detail what exactly should be done to reform our prison systems that can appeal to both sides of the aisle.

[Laknath Gunathilake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute page turner and a must read if you watched "can Mr. Smith get to Washington" about his unsuccessful congressional campaign. The first half of the book is about his rise in the Missouri political scene and subsequent downfall. The second half is about surviving prison, and his policy prescriptions to dismantle the carceral state and the prison industrial complex of the US.

[Margy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Smith writes beautifully about a topic we all need to know more. This book is an important book. Not sensational, but very revealing. Well-edited, concise. Weaving Jeff's story with the sobering reality of the current prisons' situation.

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthwhile and easily digestible read with valuable and important insights on the prison system. Appreciate Jeff smith for sharing his experience.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers 90 percent of my experience. Eerily similar in some respects.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you've already read The New Jim Crow, you probably won't learn much from this book about the corrosiveness of the prison–industrial complex. That said, the author lets his characters speak with a rawness that you don't often see, and it's worth reading for those portraits alone. The low rating stems from my uneasiness with the author himself, who seems to have imbibed a great deal more prejudice (whether behind bars or long before) than he wishes to admit. Almost every person the author meets is described by reference to their weight, with special attention given to anyone the author sees as overweight or obese. Almost all female characters are objectified in some way (including one of the author's aides!), and in a passage that I had to reread to be sure I hadn't skipped a line, he describes female correctional officers as only "arguably" women. The writer seems to be on the side of the angels, but I don't think I'd enjoy meeting him.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for class

[Deb Millett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeff Smith was MY state senator. He was one of those people whose energy and ideas gave people hope for politics and politicians. And then, next thing we knew, our state senator was caught up in a big scandal and going to prison. Prison! I'm glad I read this book, getting Smith's take on what happened that landed him in the clink (which really, was so very minor, especially when there are many true crooks in politics who skate by seemingly unscathed!). But I also appreciated his insights on prison life and how he coped as a small, Jewish guy doing time among some pretty big, tough, hardened criminals. Also, he gives many examples of what's wrong with prison and how it's become more about profit-making by corporations than about reforming people to be law-abiding citizens on the outside, how we are in fact making things worse in many ways. Definitely worth a read.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband and I both enjoyed this book over Christmas break. Smith spends a short time explaining how he ended up on prison, then more than half the book is devoted to house time in prison, organized into topical chapters. The final quarter is Smith's opinions on how to improve the mindset of politicians and the BOP regarding ways of lowering recidivism and helping offenders after they're freed. His ideas are good, though it is clear that he writes from a liberal perspective. The language is incredibly bad. Regardless of its accuracy, it seemed unnecessary to use quite that amount in order to communicate the ideas.

[Star Gater · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why? Who thought this was a good idea? Mr. Smith is cocky, foul-mouthed and unscrupulous. There are too many things wrong to even begin a list.

While he did so many things wrong legally and ethically. I'm hard pressed between lying on a dead friend or telling life serving inmates he would keep in touch and flippantly stating at the end of this book, he hadn't and maybe he would think about it as to which accurately defines his sorry self.

Of course he narrated this himself adding fuel to my fire with his F-bombs, prison jargon and N word repeatedly in his speech, all the while knowing he could speak on camera and the Senate floor without any of the three.

[UChicagoLaw]

Right now I’m reading Mr. Smith Goes to Prison by Jeff Smith. Smith is a former Missouri senator (and Political Science PhD) who, after being nabbed for campaign finance violations, served a year and a day in federal prison in Kentucky. The book is a memoir of his time “on the inside” coupled with reform proposals based in part on what he saw there, including, most prominently, an embarrassing waste of human potential. —John Rappaport

[Trevor Maloney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book and I was like, "Who cares what this rich white bro thinks about prison?" But, I was pleasantly surprised. I skimmed a lot of the discussions of policy and explanations of the growth of the prison industrial complex, b/c I've already read a lot about that stuff, but the stories he tells about his year in a federal minimum security* prison are really compelling.

*No, this does not mean that it was a "country club" prison.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the writing and the story generally okay. Very informative. Really illustrates some of the most critical failings of our criminal justice system. Both political parties share much of the blame for making our prisons anything but costly and wrong-headed, but perhaps the biggest culprits are the prison guard unions who work hard to increase the prison population to secure their jobs. They seem to be one of the biggest obstacles in preventing reforms.

[Taylor Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff Smith's lifetime of advocacy and civil service make him perfectly suited to write this insightful and damning account of our Criminal Justice System. If you can judge a society by how they treat their prisoners, we deserve nothing but scorn.

[Al Menaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best book on life in prison I've ever read. Smith was a state senator convicted of lying to the FBI. He combines life in prison with specific policy ideas to eliminate mass incarceration and help inmates succeed when released.