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30 Years Behind Bars: Trials of a Prison Doctor
Have you ever wondered what really goes on in US prisons? Karen Gedney, the first female prison doctor in Nevada, takes you behind prison bars with such vividness that you become invested in knowing what is coming next. You will learn what it takes to survive when you’re taken hostage and what a prison doctor can teach you about dealing with difficult people. The topics in 30 Years Behind Bars are as diverse as surviving as a woman in a male-dominated hierarchy, overcoming personal trauma, the issues of racism, mental illness, HIV, executions, and cancer. The overriding theme of the memoir is the power of compassion, redemption, education, and the arts. Her true stories, the adversities she survives, and why she turns it into a calling that lasts 30 years will forever change the way you see prisons. Karen was designated as one of the best in the business by the American Correctional Association and won a 'Heroes for Humanity Award' for her work in HIV in the correctional system. Today she advocates for prison reform and inspires individuals and groups to become involved in reforming the prison system.
358 pages, Paperback
Published February 23, 2018
36 people are currently reading
359 people want to read
About the author
Karen Gedney
1 book9 followersKaren grew up hiking and skiing in the Catskill Mountains in New York State. Her parent’s life was deeply affected by WWII. Karen’s grandmother, along with her mother, and her seven siblings, tried to escape when the Russians invaded Germany. Karen’s mother and her family spent years surviving starvation, lice, freezing and being held prisoners under the Russians. That trauma caused her mother to be overprotective and isolating which may have caused Karen to be painfully shy and feel socially awkward.
From the time she was 9 years old Karen dreamed about being a doctor. She read countless stories about doctors, they enthralled her because in those stories was adventure, danger, romance and methods to take care of the underdog. Part of the allure of medicine was that, as a doctor, people would need her help.
To finish medical school Karen received a scholarship. In exchange she was required to spend 4 years caring for the underserved. She was directed to Northern Nevada Correctional Center where she became the first woman doctor to serve at a men’s prison. Before the 4 years were up she determined to turn her work as a prison doctor into a career. Karen saw the difference she could make in a population that needed a doctor who would stand up for them and protect them from abuses of power. Karen shares, “The most challenging experience I faced in the prison was being held hostage by an inmate on Friday the 13th October 1989. He was one of my patients. Being assaulted and raped by that inmate, and then seeing him killed by the SWAT team affected me emotionally, and made me doubt myself. I had to deal with shock, anger and then find forgiveness.”
After Karen retired from the prison system, she dedicated herself to prison reform. Karen also wrote her memoir, "30 Years Behind Bars: Trials of a Prison Doctor". Karen states, “I wanted to share my experience about being a woman working in a hyper-male environment, surviving personal trauma as well as why the US needs to approach prison reform holistically and with compassion.” Karen discusses with great vulnerability such diverse topics as overcoming trauma, dealing with; racism, mental illness, HIV, executions, cancer, dying, regret, the power of redemption, education and poetry.
For years, in addition to being a prison doctor Karen and her husband Clifton, mentored children who had parents in the prison system. Since her husband suddenly passed away in February of 2019, Karen still mentors those children. Today she lives with a roommate, one of the inmates she became acquainted with while working in the prison. Her day consists of working out in the gym while listening to podcasts, and walking for an hour. She takes classes in ballroom dancing for fun. Karen sits on the boards of Ridge House and the board for the Nevada Prison Education Project, which places college courses in the prison. Karen Gedney is relentless in working on prison reform including working with the team to abolish the death penalty in Nevada. To that end she gives interviews and lectures on the Holistic prison model.
From the time she was 9 years old Karen dreamed about being a doctor. She read countless stories about doctors, they enthralled her because in those stories was adventure, danger, romance and methods to take care of the underdog. Part of the allure of medicine was that, as a doctor, people would need her help.
To finish medical school Karen received a scholarship. In exchange she was required to spend 4 years caring for the underserved. She was directed to Northern Nevada Correctional Center where she became the first woman doctor to serve at a men’s prison. Before the 4 years were up she determined to turn her work as a prison doctor into a career. Karen saw the difference she could make in a population that needed a doctor who would stand up for them and protect them from abuses of power. Karen shares, “The most challenging experience I faced in the prison was being held hostage by an inmate on Friday the 13th October 1989. He was one of my patients. Being assaulted and raped by that inmate, and then seeing him killed by the SWAT team affected me emotionally, and made me doubt myself. I had to deal with shock, anger and then find forgiveness.”
After Karen retired from the prison system, she dedicated herself to prison reform. Karen also wrote her memoir, "30 Years Behind Bars: Trials of a Prison Doctor". Karen states, “I wanted to share my experience about being a woman working in a hyper-male environment, surviving personal trauma as well as why the US needs to approach prison reform holistically and with compassion.” Karen discusses with great vulnerability such diverse topics as overcoming trauma, dealing with; racism, mental illness, HIV, executions, cancer, dying, regret, the power of redemption, education and poetry.
For years, in addition to being a prison doctor Karen and her husband Clifton, mentored children who had parents in the prison system. Since her husband suddenly passed away in February of 2019, Karen still mentors those children. Today she lives with a roommate, one of the inmates she became acquainted with while working in the prison. Her day consists of working out in the gym while listening to podcasts, and walking for an hour. She takes classes in ballroom dancing for fun. Karen sits on the boards of Ridge House and the board for the Nevada Prison Education Project, which places college courses in the prison. Karen Gedney is relentless in working on prison reform including working with the team to abolish the death penalty in Nevada. To that end she gives interviews and lectures on the Holistic prison model.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
1-awaiting-review-but-read
November 10, 2021\Proper review to come. When I get back to the Caribbean. Off-island having fun, but after the last phonecall with the bf it doesn't look good.
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Update This reads like a soap opera. Good episodes here and there, tedious ones in between. The entire inspirational speech she gave as a volunteer to a class of inmates about what fires them up. And the usual modern moralising of all these cons are perfectly wonderful people, just fantastic, and reading a book like X and going to this class, will bring out this perfectly wonderful person who will then go on to lead an exemplary and successful life. Right.
I have a distrust of writing where the dialogue is supposedly remembered complete with gestures, as in, 'he clicked his fingers' or 'turning round, he said'. No one remembers that sort of stuff 10 or more years later (or even next day). I think this is probably me and not the author, and I've been thinking that it's probably so in all memoirs but for some reason, I either don't notice it or it works for me, not here.
This is hovering at 3 - 3.5 star level. I am hoping for improvement to a 4!
____________________
As soon as i saw this I thought it would be really interesting to read the experience of a female prison doctor in the US, having read The Prison Doctor, the memoir of Dr. Amanda Brown of working in a prison in the UK. I wasn't that impressed with that book, it was quite pedestrian until the last quarter where she went to work in women's prison and it all got a bit more open and relateable.
So far, I'm not really impressed with Dr. Gedney's book either. It does point up the differences between US and UK prisons though. US prisons are much tougher and the prison officers, including the nurses, much harsher. It might improve, Dr Brown's did.
____________________
Update This reads like a soap opera. Good episodes here and there, tedious ones in between. The entire inspirational speech she gave as a volunteer to a class of inmates about what fires them up. And the usual modern moralising of all these cons are perfectly wonderful people, just fantastic, and reading a book like X and going to this class, will bring out this perfectly wonderful person who will then go on to lead an exemplary and successful life. Right.
I have a distrust of writing where the dialogue is supposedly remembered complete with gestures, as in, 'he clicked his fingers' or 'turning round, he said'. No one remembers that sort of stuff 10 or more years later (or even next day). I think this is probably me and not the author, and I've been thinking that it's probably so in all memoirs but for some reason, I either don't notice it or it works for me, not here.
This is hovering at 3 - 3.5 star level. I am hoping for improvement to a 4!
____________________
As soon as i saw this I thought it would be really interesting to read the experience of a female prison doctor in the US, having read The Prison Doctor, the memoir of Dr. Amanda Brown of working in a prison in the UK. I wasn't that impressed with that book, it was quite pedestrian until the last quarter where she went to work in women's prison and it all got a bit more open and relateable.
So far, I'm not really impressed with Dr. Gedney's book either. It does point up the differences between US and UK prisons though. US prisons are much tougher and the prison officers, including the nurses, much harsher. It might improve, Dr Brown's did.
May 5, 2018
The Most, Knowledgeable and Compassionate Physician
I am very fortunate to have observed Dr. Gedney provide her excellent medical care and teachings to the inmates in the correctional setting. Dr Gedney was a fighter for what she believed in when it came to inmates medical needs. Unfortunately the corrections system is dysfunctional and it operates on reaction not pro action making it difficult to hire and keep competent Doctors. This book provides so much insight into Dr. Gedney's compassionate medical care and her enduring spirit for 30 years.
Read this book and get an insight into corrections by a real professional Doctor.
I am very fortunate to have observed Dr. Gedney provide her excellent medical care and teachings to the inmates in the correctional setting. Dr Gedney was a fighter for what she believed in when it came to inmates medical needs. Unfortunately the corrections system is dysfunctional and it operates on reaction not pro action making it difficult to hire and keep competent Doctors. This book provides so much insight into Dr. Gedney's compassionate medical care and her enduring spirit for 30 years.
Read this book and get an insight into corrections by a real professional Doctor.
March 25, 2019
This is an important book, one that I hope all adults will read. It made me laugh, cry, and cheer out loud. The author was a doctor for 30 years in a medium security prison. She shares her experiences in this book, and she asks us to look at the lives of the inmates and staff who live and work in the prison system. I have definitely learned some things and have some things to think about.
August 6, 2021
Purpose in prison
Prison is a mystery to most people who have never experienced it. Dr. G., as she’s known, writes about her experience and ongoing education as a prison doctor, how she makes a difference, and where her hands are tied. This book also highlights where the system fails us all in the way we handle people who need real help.
Prison is a mystery to most people who have never experienced it. Dr. G., as she’s known, writes about her experience and ongoing education as a prison doctor, how she makes a difference, and where her hands are tied. This book also highlights where the system fails us all in the way we handle people who need real help.
August 22, 2018
4 stars for content on a rarely discussed topic. I found this book interesting and fascinating because it by a retired doctor in my state’s prison system.
December 31, 2019
A powerful memoir. As a first time author, Dr. G. writes with the eloquence and empathy of a compassionate clinician as she shares the unique and sometimes horrifying experiences encountered through a three-decade career as a prison doctor. Most striking in her expression is the raw vulnerability with which she shares her story. As a reader, I appreciated her inspiring perspective. Through her experiences, she shares a vision of hope for a healthier, more integrated and holistic future within the corrections system and society at large. I highly recommend you make an appointment with Dr. G (read the book) to experience "30 Years Behind Bars" through her eyes.
August 8, 2021
Reviewed by Lee A. Gooden, 8/5/21
“I looked at the phone in my hand, and thought: So, I’m going to prison for the next four years...”
Thus in 1987, unknown to Dr. Karen Gedney (also known as Dr. G) those “four years” would be the beginning of a thirty something year journey as a prison doctor in an all male medium security prison. The National Health Corp sent her as a physician to the prison to pay back her medical scholarship. 1987, the year her tenure started, was just before all human services organizations including prisons, started to move away from old school punitive methods and evolve to a more (albeit, no matter how temporary) person-centric proactive and rehabilitative model. Entering the prison system in the late eighties, Gedney’s innocence, naiveté, sense of human decency and her strong belief in Hippocrates’s maxim: “first, do no harm,” gave her agency and armor against archaic ideologies perpetuated by underpaid, under-trained and overworked employees.
"Thirty Years Behind Bars" is a memoir that at times reads like a novel. Dr Gedney’s writing style superbly balances humorous, as well as heart wrenching anecdotal incidents with underlined philosophical soul searching ideas based on her long term observation and experience. She juxtaposes emotional undertones, intelligence and her inner voice with the harsh reality of trying to be a doctor in a flawed and broken system operated like an Orwellian bureaucracy. She also discusses rehabilitative prison reform, advanced education for corrections workers, arts as therapy and the treatment of incarcerated HIV patients. All of those issues are as relevant today, if not more, than they were thirty years ago. Her ability to show all sides of an argument makes readers look beyond black and white judgements and half-assed solutions. Through her example, we learn not to point fingers and to pick our battles, understanding that sometimes compromises can be triumphs, not genuflecting or settling. She writes dialogue that crackles on the page. There are unforgettable conversations between unforgettable people. They are entertaining and enlightening.
Dr. Gdeney, creates a dialectic for herself as character with the other characters that transcends her book, shared between her as the author and her readers. For example, in the memoir, her husband Coley, a Vietnam Veteran, explains to her how he recognized that he had PTSD. She writes, “You don’t realize that you have PTSD until you are willing to question how the event, and your actions following the event, affect the people around you. Especially the ones who love you.”
While immersed in Dr. Gedney’s narrative, it is not only easy for me to forget that I am reading a book, but it is also easy for me to forget that I was reading a work of non-fiction. Each time I went searching for specific passages in the book to use in the review, I got sucked back in. I’ve read the book cover-to- cover multiple times. After each read, I gleaned new knowledge on myriads of levels. Dr. Gedney writing shows a genuine self-deprecating humor, along with great insight into people of all types. Readers will grow and evolve with her in her book, their inner voice will harmonize with hers and become a whole new shared voice in the narrative.
In "30 Years Behind Bars", with no punches pulled, she writes about being taken hostage, raped and witnessing the bloody violent death of her abductor. As I read that mind-bending and soul-stripping section in her memoir and learned that she still returned to work as the prison Doctor, I heard that squeaky voice again. It said, “I can’t believe she didn’t quit. Why didn’t she quit? I would’ve quit. Lee, why didn’t you quit after that guy tried to bite off your ear? Why don’t you quit?” Her answers to those questions are now my answers. Dr. Gedney writes, “People over the years have asked me why I stayed in the prison system after I was taken hostage. Looking back, I realized that the prison brought out the best in me. It heightened my compassion for individuals that were damaged on a physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual level…helped me become stronger and more resilient.”
Dr. Gedney writes, “Some of the men had been thrown away as children, some had been thrown away by society, and some had thrown themselves away. Abandonment, whether it was physical or emotional…from it came fear, anger, and all the coping skills-like drugs and alcohol-that put the people at the highest risk into prison.” Dr. Gedney continues, “We have the highest incarceration rates per capita of any country in the world and it will only change if we approach it in a holistic, systematic way with a clear goal in mind…to reduce the amount of people we put behind bars by focusing on what society can do to prevent them from entering or re-entering prisons.”
"30 Years Behind Bars" is Dr. Gedney’s testimony of her baptism of fire in the prison system. Her exemplary writing is enhanced by the brilliant and devastating artwork of former inmate, Ismael Santillanes, poet, artist and author of “Indelicate Angels” a book on poetry. As an inmate, Santillanes knew the same people that Dr. Gedney knew. The fact that Santillanes agreed to do the artwork for her book, demonstrates how much she was trusted. They shared the same space and had common life experiences on opposite ends of the spectrum and completely different perspectives. But her prose and his art meet somewhere in a neutral middle ground where they give and increase each other’s power, autonomy, authenticity and humanity.
"30 Years Behind Bars" is Dr. Gedney’s first foray at authoring a book (Hopefully, more written works will come from her pen in the future.) Board certified in Internal Medicine and Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, she is a renowned speaker and mentor. Recognized in both the medical and correctional fields, she won the ‘Heroes for Humanity Award in Nevada. She was noted as “One of the Best In Business” by the American Correctional Association. She hopes that this memoir will be instrumental in changing the American societal perspective of corrections and the prison system. She writes, “My mission the next thrifty years is to act as a catalyst to help change the current paradigm of “corrections from one of punishment to one of prevention, healing and re-integration…the corrections world and the medical world suffer from the same problem. They both spend an inordinate amount of money, energy and time on the symptoms vs the causes of the problem.”
Dr. Gedney’s life-time’s work, seeking and teaching forgiveness, empathy and kindness-the best and preventive medicine for the human condition-is deftly summed in the following quote by her husband, Coley. She writes, “The real reason you need love and humanity is that they make you actually value life, so you aren’t willing to destroy it.”
Lee A. Gooden 8/5/21
“I looked at the phone in my hand, and thought: So, I’m going to prison for the next four years...”
Thus in 1987, unknown to Dr. Karen Gedney (also known as Dr. G) those “four years” would be the beginning of a thirty something year journey as a prison doctor in an all male medium security prison. The National Health Corp sent her as a physician to the prison to pay back her medical scholarship. 1987, the year her tenure started, was just before all human services organizations including prisons, started to move away from old school punitive methods and evolve to a more (albeit, no matter how temporary) person-centric proactive and rehabilitative model. Entering the prison system in the late eighties, Gedney’s innocence, naiveté, sense of human decency and her strong belief in Hippocrates’s maxim: “first, do no harm,” gave her agency and armor against archaic ideologies perpetuated by underpaid, under-trained and overworked employees.
"Thirty Years Behind Bars" is a memoir that at times reads like a novel. Dr Gedney’s writing style superbly balances humorous, as well as heart wrenching anecdotal incidents with underlined philosophical soul searching ideas based on her long term observation and experience. She juxtaposes emotional undertones, intelligence and her inner voice with the harsh reality of trying to be a doctor in a flawed and broken system operated like an Orwellian bureaucracy. She also discusses rehabilitative prison reform, advanced education for corrections workers, arts as therapy and the treatment of incarcerated HIV patients. All of those issues are as relevant today, if not more, than they were thirty years ago. Her ability to show all sides of an argument makes readers look beyond black and white judgements and half-assed solutions. Through her example, we learn not to point fingers and to pick our battles, understanding that sometimes compromises can be triumphs, not genuflecting or settling. She writes dialogue that crackles on the page. There are unforgettable conversations between unforgettable people. They are entertaining and enlightening.
Dr. Gdeney, creates a dialectic for herself as character with the other characters that transcends her book, shared between her as the author and her readers. For example, in the memoir, her husband Coley, a Vietnam Veteran, explains to her how he recognized that he had PTSD. She writes, “You don’t realize that you have PTSD until you are willing to question how the event, and your actions following the event, affect the people around you. Especially the ones who love you.”
While immersed in Dr. Gedney’s narrative, it is not only easy for me to forget that I am reading a book, but it is also easy for me to forget that I was reading a work of non-fiction. Each time I went searching for specific passages in the book to use in the review, I got sucked back in. I’ve read the book cover-to- cover multiple times. After each read, I gleaned new knowledge on myriads of levels. Dr. Gedney writing shows a genuine self-deprecating humor, along with great insight into people of all types. Readers will grow and evolve with her in her book, their inner voice will harmonize with hers and become a whole new shared voice in the narrative.
In "30 Years Behind Bars", with no punches pulled, she writes about being taken hostage, raped and witnessing the bloody violent death of her abductor. As I read that mind-bending and soul-stripping section in her memoir and learned that she still returned to work as the prison Doctor, I heard that squeaky voice again. It said, “I can’t believe she didn’t quit. Why didn’t she quit? I would’ve quit. Lee, why didn’t you quit after that guy tried to bite off your ear? Why don’t you quit?” Her answers to those questions are now my answers. Dr. Gedney writes, “People over the years have asked me why I stayed in the prison system after I was taken hostage. Looking back, I realized that the prison brought out the best in me. It heightened my compassion for individuals that were damaged on a physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual level…helped me become stronger and more resilient.”
Dr. Gedney writes, “Some of the men had been thrown away as children, some had been thrown away by society, and some had thrown themselves away. Abandonment, whether it was physical or emotional…from it came fear, anger, and all the coping skills-like drugs and alcohol-that put the people at the highest risk into prison.” Dr. Gedney continues, “We have the highest incarceration rates per capita of any country in the world and it will only change if we approach it in a holistic, systematic way with a clear goal in mind…to reduce the amount of people we put behind bars by focusing on what society can do to prevent them from entering or re-entering prisons.”
"30 Years Behind Bars" is Dr. Gedney’s testimony of her baptism of fire in the prison system. Her exemplary writing is enhanced by the brilliant and devastating artwork of former inmate, Ismael Santillanes, poet, artist and author of “Indelicate Angels” a book on poetry. As an inmate, Santillanes knew the same people that Dr. Gedney knew. The fact that Santillanes agreed to do the artwork for her book, demonstrates how much she was trusted. They shared the same space and had common life experiences on opposite ends of the spectrum and completely different perspectives. But her prose and his art meet somewhere in a neutral middle ground where they give and increase each other’s power, autonomy, authenticity and humanity.
"30 Years Behind Bars" is Dr. Gedney’s first foray at authoring a book (Hopefully, more written works will come from her pen in the future.) Board certified in Internal Medicine and Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, she is a renowned speaker and mentor. Recognized in both the medical and correctional fields, she won the ‘Heroes for Humanity Award in Nevada. She was noted as “One of the Best In Business” by the American Correctional Association. She hopes that this memoir will be instrumental in changing the American societal perspective of corrections and the prison system. She writes, “My mission the next thrifty years is to act as a catalyst to help change the current paradigm of “corrections from one of punishment to one of prevention, healing and re-integration…the corrections world and the medical world suffer from the same problem. They both spend an inordinate amount of money, energy and time on the symptoms vs the causes of the problem.”
Dr. Gedney’s life-time’s work, seeking and teaching forgiveness, empathy and kindness-the best and preventive medicine for the human condition-is deftly summed in the following quote by her husband, Coley. She writes, “The real reason you need love and humanity is that they make you actually value life, so you aren’t willing to destroy it.”
Lee A. Gooden 8/5/21
May 3, 2019
From the compelling title to the inspirational last chapter, where the author asks, "What will your legacy be?" this book engages. By turns humorous, shocking, inspiring, and educational, this is the story of a naive young woman physician who hones her skills and learns her limits, as well as those of the prison system, by paying back her medical school scholarship by working in a male medium-security prison. She had to stay for four years as dictated by her contract, but she stayed 30 years. Given some of the shocking and heart-rending experiences she has, you will wonder why she stayed so long, but you'll be glad she did.
The only weakness of the book, which is common in first books, is that it weakens a little near the end. The book is built on very readable short chapters, each of which tells a vignette about the author's experience with this often-inhumane system, a prisoner who either challenges or changes her, and her discoveries about herself and the limits of our penal system. The disjointed quality gets in the way a little near the end, but if you're someone like me who only reads a couple of chapters at a time, that won't bother you.
If you've ever wondered if justice is being served in our prison system, or if being imprisoned can change someone for the better, then this book is for your. And if you just like a good story with heart, you'll also love this book.
The only weakness of the book, which is common in first books, is that it weakens a little near the end. The book is built on very readable short chapters, each of which tells a vignette about the author's experience with this often-inhumane system, a prisoner who either challenges or changes her, and her discoveries about herself and the limits of our penal system. The disjointed quality gets in the way a little near the end, but if you're someone like me who only reads a couple of chapters at a time, that won't bother you.
If you've ever wondered if justice is being served in our prison system, or if being imprisoned can change someone for the better, then this book is for your. And if you just like a good story with heart, you'll also love this book.
May 17, 2021
Riveting, Enlightening, and Inspires Hope!
Karen's sharing of her story of being behind bars is riveting. I was shaken by the raw vulnerability she shared about being held hostage and her recovery from that experience. Her perseverance and dedication to the inmates then, and her advocacy of Holistic Prison Reform now are an inspiration. I learned more and became so much informed about prison life through her stories of the inmates lives and her care for them. Do you believe in the power of compassion or redemption? Do you believe people can change for the better? Do you believe in Holistic Prison Reform? If you have ever asked any of these questions, you will want to read this book.
Karen's sharing of her story of being behind bars is riveting. I was shaken by the raw vulnerability she shared about being held hostage and her recovery from that experience. Her perseverance and dedication to the inmates then, and her advocacy of Holistic Prison Reform now are an inspiration. I learned more and became so much informed about prison life through her stories of the inmates lives and her care for them. Do you believe in the power of compassion or redemption? Do you believe people can change for the better? Do you believe in Holistic Prison Reform? If you have ever asked any of these questions, you will want to read this book.
April 7, 2019
“30 year’s Behind Bars” by Karen Gedney, M.D. is a memoir of a doctor’s life behind the bars of the Nevada State Prison. This book is a fast read, with many interesting inmates and the changing climate of the medical department depending on the attitudes and priorities of the director at the time. The doctor instituted innovative programs for inmates which various directors either supported or suspended with the changing times and politics. This is a view of prison from the perspective of a caring person striving to bring alternatives to people who see no way out of institutional life.
August 17, 2020
Great portrait of a challenging career
Dr Gedney does a fine job of showing how she developed mind and soul through the 30 years working in prison. She starts off (by her self description) as naive but as she develops as a doctor and project administrator she remarkably does not become jaded. Fantastic job.
Dr Gedney does a fine job of showing how she developed mind and soul through the 30 years working in prison. She starts off (by her self description) as naive but as she develops as a doctor and project administrator she remarkably does not become jaded. Fantastic job.
June 24, 2019
Great insight into the reality of life in the prison microcosm that really makes you think. This is not the typical view.....it is the view from the eyes of a prison doctor - a female Doctor providing medical care in a male prison.
September 18, 2023
30 Years Behind Bars is an evocative memoir of Dr. Karen Gedney, the pioneering female doctor in a Nevada prison. The memoir captures Karen's journey, from her childhood aspirations of healing to navigating the complex realities of an overwhelmingly male prison population.
The narrative intricately weaves Dr. Karen's interactions with her patients, highlighting her unwavering commitment and compassion, even in the face of unimaginable challenges. One striking story revolves around Moth, an inmate grappling with profound emotional scars. Despite Karen's earnest attempts to extend emotional support, a heart-wrenching turn of events culminates in her being held hostage.
Beyond this central story, the memoir delves into broader systemic issues, such as drug addiction, prison hierarchies, and the often-overlooked health challenges inmates face, including cancer and HIV. Dr. Karen emerges as a beacon of hope, advocating for improved medical treatments, emphasizing emotional wellness, and amplifying the voices of those behind bars. Her resilience is further underscored by the unwavering support of her husband, Coley, who not only stands by her but also contributes by educating inmates.
Dr. Karen's story is a testament to the belief that compassion and perseverance can make a difference even in the most challenging environments. While many might have chosen to retreat following such a traumatic experience, Karen's dedication to her cause remained unshaken.
The memoir challenges readers to reflect on our perceptions of criminals. It beckons us to consider the intricate tapestry of circumstances—be it childhood trauma, addiction, or false implications—that might land someone behind bars. It raises the pertinent question: Should society merely incarcerate and forget, or should there be avenues for rehabilitation and redemption?
30 Years Behind Bars is more than just a memoir—it's a powerful commentary on the human spirit, resilience, and the potential for transformation. This book promises an engaging and enlightening read for those who appreciate thought-provoking narratives that challenge societal norms. I recommend this memoir for its raw, candid, and impactful storytelling.
The narrative intricately weaves Dr. Karen's interactions with her patients, highlighting her unwavering commitment and compassion, even in the face of unimaginable challenges. One striking story revolves around Moth, an inmate grappling with profound emotional scars. Despite Karen's earnest attempts to extend emotional support, a heart-wrenching turn of events culminates in her being held hostage.
Beyond this central story, the memoir delves into broader systemic issues, such as drug addiction, prison hierarchies, and the often-overlooked health challenges inmates face, including cancer and HIV. Dr. Karen emerges as a beacon of hope, advocating for improved medical treatments, emphasizing emotional wellness, and amplifying the voices of those behind bars. Her resilience is further underscored by the unwavering support of her husband, Coley, who not only stands by her but also contributes by educating inmates.
Dr. Karen's story is a testament to the belief that compassion and perseverance can make a difference even in the most challenging environments. While many might have chosen to retreat following such a traumatic experience, Karen's dedication to her cause remained unshaken.
The memoir challenges readers to reflect on our perceptions of criminals. It beckons us to consider the intricate tapestry of circumstances—be it childhood trauma, addiction, or false implications—that might land someone behind bars. It raises the pertinent question: Should society merely incarcerate and forget, or should there be avenues for rehabilitation and redemption?
30 Years Behind Bars is more than just a memoir—it's a powerful commentary on the human spirit, resilience, and the potential for transformation. This book promises an engaging and enlightening read for those who appreciate thought-provoking narratives that challenge societal norms. I recommend this memoir for its raw, candid, and impactful storytelling.
July 2, 2022
30 Years Behind Bars: Trials of a Prison Doctor by Karen Gedney
three star rating
Overall well written long-term case study an autobiography of a prison doctor. There are two main takeaways from this book one is the continuous tug-of-war between the two opposing viewpoints the prisons are there to warehouse inmates in the opposing view that prisons are meant to rehabilitate prisoners for possible future release.
The second being the unintended consequences of long-term incarceration. Sure we can lock away people but every year they’re incarcerated their medical expenses will grow exponentially probably more because of the prisons duty to reduce operating costs which means prisoners do not get the best food which leads to diabetes and other medical issues which increases their overall cost of incarceration.
I really enjoyed reading this autobiography/case study. I believe the author was very even handed in her treatment of both inmates in prison officials. Most times I feel as if Depending on the point of you of the author either the prisoners are the most evil people on earth or the prison officials are Cold heartless individuals. I did not feel this way in this particular case. For these reasons I gave this book a three star rating out of a possible five star rating
three star rating
Overall well written long-term case study an autobiography of a prison doctor. There are two main takeaways from this book one is the continuous tug-of-war between the two opposing viewpoints the prisons are there to warehouse inmates in the opposing view that prisons are meant to rehabilitate prisoners for possible future release.
The second being the unintended consequences of long-term incarceration. Sure we can lock away people but every year they’re incarcerated their medical expenses will grow exponentially probably more because of the prisons duty to reduce operating costs which means prisoners do not get the best food which leads to diabetes and other medical issues which increases their overall cost of incarceration.
I really enjoyed reading this autobiography/case study. I believe the author was very even handed in her treatment of both inmates in prison officials. Most times I feel as if Depending on the point of you of the author either the prisoners are the most evil people on earth or the prison officials are Cold heartless individuals. I did not feel this way in this particular case. For these reasons I gave this book a three star rating out of a possible five star rating
June 14, 2023
Whilst this has some moving stories, and interesting recounts, the author never really goes into detail, it is always a surface level recount of the story or situation.
Which is interesting to me as this is her own life story, so you think there would be more emotion, more feeling, more details.
Racism is covered, Aids is covered, but it never goes any deeper than the initial meeting with these problems, then the chapter ends and we are quickly moved onto the next story.
Even when the author was held hostage and went through a traumatizing situation, her PTSD is only discussed over two sentences, and again we are moved onto the next topic.
It was still an interesting read but compared to other similar books about life on the job, this one doesn't compare.
Which is interesting to me as this is her own life story, so you think there would be more emotion, more feeling, more details.
Racism is covered, Aids is covered, but it never goes any deeper than the initial meeting with these problems, then the chapter ends and we are quickly moved onto the next story.
Even when the author was held hostage and went through a traumatizing situation, her PTSD is only discussed over two sentences, and again we are moved onto the next topic.
It was still an interesting read but compared to other similar books about life on the job, this one doesn't compare.
September 27, 2021
Riveting, Enlightening, and Inspires Hope!
Karen's sharing of her story of being behind bars is riveting. I was shaken by the raw vulnerability she shared about being held hostage and her recovery from that experience. Her perseverance and dedication to the inmates then, and her advocacy of Holistic Prison Reform now are an inspiration. I learned more and became so much informed about prison life through her stories of the inmate's lives and her care for them. Do you believe in the power of compassion or redemption? Do you believe people can change for the better? Do you believe in Holistic Prison Reform? If you have ever asked any of these questions, you will want to read this book.
Karen's sharing of her story of being behind bars is riveting. I was shaken by the raw vulnerability she shared about being held hostage and her recovery from that experience. Her perseverance and dedication to the inmates then, and her advocacy of Holistic Prison Reform now are an inspiration. I learned more and became so much informed about prison life through her stories of the inmate's lives and her care for them. Do you believe in the power of compassion or redemption? Do you believe people can change for the better? Do you believe in Holistic Prison Reform? If you have ever asked any of these questions, you will want to read this book.
April 3, 2019
An excellent telling of a young doctor’s true experience in the Nevada State Prison system. Many stories of inmates and the ways she was able to help them (or not). I retired from this state’s service myself and related to the many ups and downs of working in a system where the differing people in power welded good and not so good ideas. I certainly agreed with her tenants that education and programs helped prisoners. What a kind doctor. Everyone will have a better understanding of prisons by reading this book. Well written and thank you, Dr. Gedney.
October 15, 2022
I usually don’t like memoirs because of the way the author writes. Dr. G writes like a writer. Succinct thoughts. She went through so many changes and helped the inmates go through them too, many who improved drastically. She believes in growing up,looking forward , and making the best of what you have. She is quite inspiring. I also believe that prison needs to groom people to be released into society again instead of releasing them with little or no skills.
January 17, 2019
Non fiction account of a woman doctor who worked within a Nevada prison for 30 years. It describes her experiences in dealing with prison bureaucracy and inmates. The inmates ranged across the spectrum from the elderly to the worst criminals imaginable. While not especially well written, it does a terrific job describing her experiences.
August 16, 2022
The most refreshing book I've read in a long time
As an activist dedicated to trying to change the penal system in Nevada, this book nurtured my soul. I am so inspired by Dr Gedney's work and am so fired up to make positive change in Nevada. God knows, this state needs as many of us as possible!
As an activist dedicated to trying to change the penal system in Nevada, this book nurtured my soul. I am so inspired by Dr Gedney's work and am so fired up to make positive change in Nevada. God knows, this state needs as many of us as possible!
March 17, 2018
Wonderful book by a smart, caring professional!
This book was fascinating. So interesting to see the compassion in such a broken place. Dr. G walks you through so many insights into the human psyche. Must read!
This book was fascinating. So interesting to see the compassion in such a broken place. Dr. G walks you through so many insights into the human psyche. Must read!
September 6, 2023
A compassionate doctor
A very interesting book about prisons and prisoners from someone working on the inside. She takes you behind the scenes in the medical unit where you get to hear from the prisoners and their choices in life.
A very interesting book about prisons and prisoners from someone working on the inside. She takes you behind the scenes in the medical unit where you get to hear from the prisoners and their choices in life.
July 6, 2018
A compassionate read by a proactive and articulate woman. I enjoyed it throughly.
October 5, 2018
I found this account of a doctor who practiced her entire career in a prison very interesting. I learned a little about how some prisons operate. Gedney certainly had a unique career.
March 23, 2019
A well-told view into a world most of do not experience.
January 10, 2022
Very strong and impactful. Thought provoking and evokes strong emotion, especially when remembering this is not fiction.
November 24, 2023
Although not the best prose, it is an incredibly inspiring book, really makes you want to do something to positively impact the world.
Read
September 27, 2025excellent
October 13, 2025
Amazing book
December 4, 2025
Interesting read and gives you a different perspective of the prison system.
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