What do you think?
Rate this book
English Shaun #3
Prison Time
"A terrifying insight into prison life" – UNILAD
After Shaun Attwood arrived in the Arizona Department of Corrections, his challenges multiplied. His cellmate threatened to cave in Shaun’s skull with a padlock in a sock. A naked neighbour dragged him into a cell for sex. Before a visit with his parents, he was attacked by a drug-crazed biker.
Forced to adapt or perish, Shaun made alliances with powerful prisoners, including T-Bone a massive ex-Marine who risked his life saving inmates from rape, and Two Tonys, an old-school Mafia murderer who left the corpses of his rivals from Tucson to Alaska. They showed Shaun how to transcend incarceration and to learn from his mistakes.
After Shaun Attwood arrived in the Arizona Department of Corrections, his challenges multiplied. His cellmate threatened to cave in Shaun’s skull with a padlock in a sock. A naked neighbour dragged him into a cell for sex. Before a visit with his parents, he was attacked by a drug-crazed biker.
Forced to adapt or perish, Shaun made alliances with powerful prisoners, including T-Bone a massive ex-Marine who risked his life saving inmates from rape, and Two Tonys, an old-school Mafia murderer who left the corpses of his rivals from Tucson to Alaska. They showed Shaun how to transcend incarceration and to learn from his mistakes.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2018
216 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Shaun Attwood
77 books356 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 31, 2021
Exceptionally heartfelt
They say the punishment fits the crime, but this is the worst punishment that doesn't fit the crime.A totally harrowing , political injustice to the prisoners of the Arizona's prison system , makes it feel medieval in it's regime, how Mr Attwood survived is a miracle, highly recommend read, and A well done to him, he deserves all the success he gains to dedicate his life for reform of one horrible prison system, and to help the vulnerable people in the same position he found him self in. An exceptionally well written account and no holds barred book, a really touching and brilliant story.
They say the punishment fits the crime, but this is the worst punishment that doesn't fit the crime.A totally harrowing , political injustice to the prisoners of the Arizona's prison system , makes it feel medieval in it's regime, how Mr Attwood survived is a miracle, highly recommend read, and A well done to him, he deserves all the success he gains to dedicate his life for reform of one horrible prison system, and to help the vulnerable people in the same position he found him self in. An exceptionally well written account and no holds barred book, a really touching and brilliant story.
December 26, 2018
Loved it
This final book is more about the authors self improvement, his mental battle with personal acceptance and figuring out how to cope with his eventual release.
An amazing read on the appalling conditions that prisoners have to deal with while serving time in the Arizona DOC. It’s not just about day to day survival on the yard, but about surviving the system which does not care about any of the prisoners needs and the amazing bonds and love that forms between certain prisoners.
If you loved Jail Time, you’ll love this.
This final book is more about the authors self improvement, his mental battle with personal acceptance and figuring out how to cope with his eventual release.
An amazing read on the appalling conditions that prisoners have to deal with while serving time in the Arizona DOC. It’s not just about day to day survival on the yard, but about surviving the system which does not care about any of the prisoners needs and the amazing bonds and love that forms between certain prisoners.
If you loved Jail Time, you’ll love this.
May 9, 2021
Read until I went blind
Immediately after finishing Hard Time I started Prison Time and didn't stop I literally couldn't see and when my vision came back I read until my tablet died after being fully charged (same as Hard Time). Shaun Attwood and Two Tony's have inspired me in the same ways Kafka and Camus and Nietzsche. He is England's Shalamov. The Shaun trilogy is a must read for those seeking self redemption and those that seek criminal justice reform here in the United States.
Immediately after finishing Hard Time I started Prison Time and didn't stop I literally couldn't see and when my vision came back I read until my tablet died after being fully charged (same as Hard Time). Shaun Attwood and Two Tony's have inspired me in the same ways Kafka and Camus and Nietzsche. He is England's Shalamov. The Shaun trilogy is a must read for those seeking self redemption and those that seek criminal justice reform here in the United States.
January 8, 2019
Prison Time
Couldn't read it, too graphic for me. Started to read the trilogy, actually have me nightmares, so I can say, the author writes so well, portraying prison life so vividly that's all I can say. Sorry
Couldn't read it, too graphic for me. Started to read the trilogy, actually have me nightmares, so I can say, the author writes so well, portraying prison life so vividly that's all I can say. Sorry
February 4, 2024
This was my first in the trilogy to read, I had listened to his interview on the Jo Marler podcast and wanted to learn more. I found this a hard book to read. One because of the injustice people had to endure. I had a very naive view of prison, thinking that the only thing you had to worry about was the prisoners, not the guards or the policies in it. The medical, the detention, the discipline I was shocked and angry. I didn't particularly like reading his letters, I found they distorted the likability of Mr. Attwood. In this book he has main character energy. That things will work out for him the way he wants them to. And if they don't it's down to other people - 'Jade does want him, she just needs time and she'll see her error' "her insistence on friendship increases my determination to forge a relationship" or his session with Dr. Pedder, their second meeting went better and he assumed the first one was bad because she was having an off day and not the fact that he was feeling down due to his anxiety and release status.
May 13, 2019
Excellent read
It took a litlle under 2 weeks finish the Trilogy, thoroughly enjoyed all 3 books from the first page to the last
Although listening to Shaun's podcasts, think he may have held back on some of the more gruesome details, not to say there arnt plenty of ball tightening chapters
Looking forward to reading the Mafia Code next
It took a litlle under 2 weeks finish the Trilogy, thoroughly enjoyed all 3 books from the first page to the last
Although listening to Shaun's podcasts, think he may have held back on some of the more gruesome details, not to say there arnt plenty of ball tightening chapters
Looking forward to reading the Mafia Code next
April 14, 2020
Reader now a Fan!
Very good read Shaun, captivated by your work whether it be YouTube, true crime podcast or your previous two books. You really went from bad to worse and came out with better clarity and came out smiling. A true mental health advocate and a lot can be taken and learned from your story. Thank You.
Chris Sharpe
Very good read Shaun, captivated by your work whether it be YouTube, true crime podcast or your previous two books. You really went from bad to worse and came out with better clarity and came out smiling. A true mental health advocate and a lot can be taken and learned from your story. Thank You.
Chris Sharpe
January 24, 2019
Well done.
To be rehabilitated to this level deserves every accolade you can get Shaun. You must be so very proud of yourself. Congratulations on being able to get your message out there for everyone ( young people especially) to hear and learn something from it.
To be rehabilitated to this level deserves every accolade you can get Shaun. You must be so very proud of yourself. Congratulations on being able to get your message out there for everyone ( young people especially) to hear and learn something from it.
December 15, 2020
Very sad to read at the end about the injustice done to T-Bone 😥 If he doesn't reap the rewards in the next life for the good he has done and the injustice he has suffered in this world then there is no hope for the rest of us!
April 28, 2021
A page turned but not in a good way.
The author is really into himself. The family letters and psychiatric help got real old and boring. I was looking forward to prison stories but got a I me my story.
The author is really into himself. The family letters and psychiatric help got real old and boring. I was looking forward to prison stories but got a I me my story.
November 5, 2022
Fantastic end to the trilogy
This is a great book on its own and a fantastic end to the trilogy, I was gripped throughout the twists and turns of Mr Atwood final part of his sentence.
This is a great book on its own and a fantastic end to the trilogy, I was gripped throughout the twists and turns of Mr Atwood final part of his sentence.
July 31, 2021
Least liked.
This was my.least.enjoyed of the trilogy.
Just read much slower... Seemed more pushed out. Anyhow I still enjoyed jut not as first two...
This was my.least.enjoyed of the trilogy.
Just read much slower... Seemed more pushed out. Anyhow I still enjoyed jut not as first two...
May 2, 2024
Looooved it. His voice in the narration is a bit monotonous but you get used to it
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews