Unusual Punishment
Inside the Walla Walla Prison, 1970 - 1985
More than a few motion pictures have captivated audiences with the image of a villainous, all-powerful prison warden and, in many cases in our nation’s history of incarceration, the caricature was accurate. But beginning around 1970, all that began to change when riots, legal challenges, unions, drug use, and other factors undermined the authority of autonomous, unaccountable prison systems. This compelling book details the bizarre story of the Washington State Penitentiary’s disastrous efforts at liberal reform in the seventies. Yes, the inmates ruled the roost until a descent into total deadly chaos moved things back in the other direction.
Reviewed by
Matt Sutherland
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