What do you think?
Rate this book
Hard Time: Life with Sheriff Joe Arpaio in America's Toughest Jail
Shaun Attwood was a millionaire day trader in Phoenix, Arizona, but his hedonistic lifestyle of drugs and parties came to an abrupt end in 2002 when a SWAT team broke down his door. Attwood found himself on remand in Maricopa Jail with a $750,000 cash bond and all of his assets seized. The nightmare was only just beginning as he was submerged in a jail in which rival gangs vied for control, crystal meth was freely available, and where breaking rules could result in beatings or death. Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s jails have the highest death rate in the United States. Hard Time is the harrowing yet darkly humorous account of the time Attwood spent submerged in a nightmarish world of gang violence and insect-infested cells, eating food unfit for animals. His remarkable story provides a revealing glimpse into the tragedy, brutality, comedy, and eccentricity of prison life.
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2011
87 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Shaun Attwood
78 books362 followersIn prison, I read over 1000 books in just under six years, including many literary classics. Books were the lifeblood of my rehabilitation.
As told on National Geographic Channel's Locked-Up/Banged-Up Abroad episode "Raving Arizona," I used a tiny pencil sharpened on a cell door to write the first prison blog, Jon’s Jail Journal. My writing, smuggled out of the jail with the highest rate of death in America, run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, turned the international media spotlight on the human rights violations, including guards murdering mentally ill inmates, dead rats in the food, lack of medical care...
Raised in a small chemical-manufacturing town in northern England, I was the first from my family to go to university. As a penniless graduate, I took my business degree to Phoenix, and worked my way up to become a stock-market millionaire.
But I also led a double life. An early fan of the Manchester rave scene, I headed an organisation that threw raves and distributed Ecstasy. On May 16th 2002, a SWAT team knocked my door down.
Facing a life sentence, I entered a lengthy legal battle. After two years of being held unsentenced, I was convicted of drug offences. Sentenced to 9½ years, I served almost 6.
I had only read finance books prior to my arrest. While incarcerated, I submerged myself in literature. By studying original texts in psychology and philosophy, I sought to better understand myself and my past behaviour.
Released in December 2007, I continue to campaign against Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I keep my blog, Jon’s Jail Journal, going by posting stories mailed to me by my prison friends.
In July 2008, I won a Koestler award for a short story, which I read to an audience at the Royal Festival Hall.
I presently live near London, and talk to schools across the UK about my jail experience and the consequences of getting involved in drugs and crime.
As told on National Geographic Channel's Locked-Up/Banged-Up Abroad episode "Raving Arizona," I used a tiny pencil sharpened on a cell door to write the first prison blog, Jon’s Jail Journal. My writing, smuggled out of the jail with the highest rate of death in America, run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, turned the international media spotlight on the human rights violations, including guards murdering mentally ill inmates, dead rats in the food, lack of medical care...
Raised in a small chemical-manufacturing town in northern England, I was the first from my family to go to university. As a penniless graduate, I took my business degree to Phoenix, and worked my way up to become a stock-market millionaire.
But I also led a double life. An early fan of the Manchester rave scene, I headed an organisation that threw raves and distributed Ecstasy. On May 16th 2002, a SWAT team knocked my door down.
Facing a life sentence, I entered a lengthy legal battle. After two years of being held unsentenced, I was convicted of drug offences. Sentenced to 9½ years, I served almost 6.
I had only read finance books prior to my arrest. While incarcerated, I submerged myself in literature. By studying original texts in psychology and philosophy, I sought to better understand myself and my past behaviour.
Released in December 2007, I continue to campaign against Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I keep my blog, Jon’s Jail Journal, going by posting stories mailed to me by my prison friends.
In July 2008, I won a Koestler award for a short story, which I read to an audience at the Royal Festival Hall.
I presently live near London, and talk to schools across the UK about my jail experience and the consequences of getting involved in drugs and crime.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 12, 2016
I just could not feel sorry for Shaun. He never once expressed any responsibility for any of the people he sold drugs to. I certainly do not believe in the "war on drugs" and honestly believe that the prisons/jails are just creating better criminals, but he had so many advantages and he blew them all to party. Actually, maybe I was just annoyed with the pictures he included with his cars and with stripper girls...and the not very well written sappy love notes.
May 3, 2012
I really enjoyed reading Attwood's book documenting his rise and fall as a once wealthy rave party promoter / day trader dropping to the lows in becoming an inmate of the Arizona State Penal System. The story line was gripping, the characters ranged from likable to detestable, the portrayal of the jail and prison facilities was graphic and gritty, and Attwood comes off as a personable lad who made bad choices and got caught. Was his sentence fair in light of other crimes out there? Not at all. Did the system work and scare the piss out of him? Yes. He is one of those rare folks that actually get the message that prison and jail are bad places to be avoided. Most do not.
I have heard the horror stories of the jails ran by Sheriff Joe Arpaio. One part of me, detests his "Faux News" talking head status and celebrity status. The other part of me wishes that all prisons and jails were nasty, rat filled pits that actually server as a deterrent to crime. So many view lock-up as a day spa with their hobby shops, libraries, movie nights, etc that detention is a nicer set up than they lived in prior to arrest. Crime is a choice. Being in custody has already proven to not rehabilitate the inmate, but in fact make them more angry and better criminals. We, the innocent and most often victims of these lost souls must be the ones to enact fair sentencing that is balanced and in line with the crime committed. We must ensure that scumbag attorneys, judges, and sheriffs have full accountability and work in a transparent atmosphere. If our taxes are paying for it, then they must follow sound guidelines. I am all for human rights, but do feel that once a person violates the rights of a victim, than they must sacrifice some of theirs. Choices we make.
Attwood's case is a frustrating one, in that I see the lopsided justice system at work fueled by personal vendettas and inflated egos of some in law enforcement and the DA's Office. He got a bad deal in light of how it "should work", BUT he did run a drug ring and that is illegal. Our system is corrupt. What can we expect from a government that kills women and children with drones??!! We are a nation led by "power drunk" whores, who will sacrifice any dignity they have for the almighty dollar. Attwood got on the wrong side of it when he was arrested.
Now to the book.... Great story. I respect Attwood. The book loses focus now and then. Is this a story about his demise? Is this an anti-drug message? Is this a personal attack on Sheriff Arpaio? I figured with Arpaio mentioned in the title, that there would be more of a full on attack on his questionable politics and practices. The book actually doesn't dedicate much energy directly at Arpaio. I know much is left unsaid, but if Attwood really wants to be an activist and make positive changes in Arpaio's empire, he must be more direct and blunt. As a reader, I could almost hear the author's attorneys say "Be careful La, he will bite back!!"
All in all, a decent read. I think it is brilliant that Attwood is speaking out against drugs now as a free man back home in England. If just one person reads this and vows to stay on the clean path and avid jail for the sake of its nasty environment, then Attwood has done his job. Sadly, the ones that sit and read and heed messages, are not the ones that are prone to commit crimes in the first place, though like with much of life, there may be exceptions.
I have heard the horror stories of the jails ran by Sheriff Joe Arpaio. One part of me, detests his "Faux News" talking head status and celebrity status. The other part of me wishes that all prisons and jails were nasty, rat filled pits that actually server as a deterrent to crime. So many view lock-up as a day spa with their hobby shops, libraries, movie nights, etc that detention is a nicer set up than they lived in prior to arrest. Crime is a choice. Being in custody has already proven to not rehabilitate the inmate, but in fact make them more angry and better criminals. We, the innocent and most often victims of these lost souls must be the ones to enact fair sentencing that is balanced and in line with the crime committed. We must ensure that scumbag attorneys, judges, and sheriffs have full accountability and work in a transparent atmosphere. If our taxes are paying for it, then they must follow sound guidelines. I am all for human rights, but do feel that once a person violates the rights of a victim, than they must sacrifice some of theirs. Choices we make.
Attwood's case is a frustrating one, in that I see the lopsided justice system at work fueled by personal vendettas and inflated egos of some in law enforcement and the DA's Office. He got a bad deal in light of how it "should work", BUT he did run a drug ring and that is illegal. Our system is corrupt. What can we expect from a government that kills women and children with drones??!! We are a nation led by "power drunk" whores, who will sacrifice any dignity they have for the almighty dollar. Attwood got on the wrong side of it when he was arrested.
Now to the book.... Great story. I respect Attwood. The book loses focus now and then. Is this a story about his demise? Is this an anti-drug message? Is this a personal attack on Sheriff Arpaio? I figured with Arpaio mentioned in the title, that there would be more of a full on attack on his questionable politics and practices. The book actually doesn't dedicate much energy directly at Arpaio. I know much is left unsaid, but if Attwood really wants to be an activist and make positive changes in Arpaio's empire, he must be more direct and blunt. As a reader, I could almost hear the author's attorneys say "Be careful La, he will bite back!!"
All in all, a decent read. I think it is brilliant that Attwood is speaking out against drugs now as a free man back home in England. If just one person reads this and vows to stay on the clean path and avid jail for the sake of its nasty environment, then Attwood has done his job. Sadly, the ones that sit and read and heed messages, are not the ones that are prone to commit crimes in the first place, though like with much of life, there may be exceptions.
November 30, 2016
5 stars I almost never give
Wow. To me, an A+ book gets 4 stars. But this is extraordinary. It is well written, raw, achingly honest. Wow.
Wow. To me, an A+ book gets 4 stars. But this is extraordinary. It is well written, raw, achingly honest. Wow.
June 1, 2024
This is the first book I’ve been able to finish reading since I started grad school a few years ago, and it was exactly what I needed to remind myself of my love for reading. I have not cried over a book in a VERY long time, but the last few chapters of this one finally broke me down!
11/10 would recommend to anyone interested in the blatant injustices and unapologetic human rights violations rampant in the US prison system and how its promise of rehabilitation is completely negated by the reality of actual prison.
11/10 would recommend to anyone interested in the blatant injustices and unapologetic human rights violations rampant in the US prison system and how its promise of rehabilitation is completely negated by the reality of actual prison.
December 10, 2020
It's a well written account if being in the american jail system. It's interesting and things seem hard. Through an astonishing series of near misses, Shaun never actually gets seriously hurt.
The inmates are interesting, and it paints a picture of who ends up in the prison system, reinforcing the problematic nature of a criminal justice system that works for profit. And no one really has an easy go of it.
The inmates are interesting, and it paints a picture of who ends up in the prison system, reinforcing the problematic nature of a criminal justice system that works for profit. And no one really has an easy go of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2023
Interesting account of jail life
November 11, 2025
wanted it 2 keep going
November 6, 2024
Very quick and easy read. The only problem is some of the visualization will make your toes curl. I felt as desperate to finish as Attwood felt to finish his stay in Arpaio's prisons. This actually made me redefine my view on prisoners' rights. Great read.
July 31, 2019
Horrifying.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews