ADX SUPERMAX:: THE ALCATRAZ OF THE ROCKIES

by JACK POWERS (03220-028), Jane Powers (Editor)

A true story about a former bank robber who escaped from a federal prison and was sent to ADX Supermax in Florence, Colorado. This book is a manifesto on the concept of human beings keeping other human beings in cages, and the effects of that on both society and the individual. The story is composed of a number of events that I experienced directly, and they are one-hundred percent true. The structure of my composition is intentional, and it is intended to convey my actual state of mind at the time of the events depicted. There are several passages where I refer to myself in the third person. This was both how I felt about myself at times, and it was necessary while writing and re-writing in order to keep going. There are also vignettes that involve some of my more pronounced memories during childhood. These helped me make it through my ordeal at the supermax. The process of writing is a lot like the process of personal growth and development. I began this work with an idea, sketched out the general framework and then began to put the meat on the bones. Of course, I had to go over the whole thing time and time again in order to get it the way I wanted it to be. The act of writing has been my main therapy for many years now. I may or may not be a good writer (that is for you to decide), but I love to write. A lot of what you are about to read was first written with the stub of a pencil on lined, prison-supplied paper. There is a lot of written content that has been lost to transfers, shakedowns, and broken sprinklers. It does not bother me because it was always the process itself that was most important to me. There are more stories within the story that could have been told. However, I decided to keep it as short and to-the-point as is possible in order to sharpen the points I want to make. Perhaps I will revisit the rest of the story at another time. For now, it is more than sufficient for the purposes it is intended to fulfill. I am confident that the reader will find this work to be educational, practical, and useful particularly for those who are interested in criminal justice system reform. My main point is that there are better ways to achieve the goals of law and order in our society. Thought I do carry a certain hurt in my heart, I am not bitter or vindictive or unfair.

Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2021

Reviews

[Glenn Milewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and beautifully written

Jack Powers has poured his entire being into this book. It is impossible to read it and not be moved.