John Irwin taught sociology at San Francisco State University for 27 years, during which time he studied prisons and jails. His research was published in five books. He was also a member of the Working Party for the American Friends Service Committee that wrote the influential report--The Struggle for Justice. He worked closely with the California legislature on the Uniform Sentencing Act passed in 1976.

"No one knows prisons and prisoners better than John Irwin as he uses the unique perspective of a former prisoner to inform us about 17 "lifers" serving time in California’s infamous San Quentin prison. Students, scholars, public officials and the general public must read this book!"—Randall G. Shelden, Criminal Justice, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• 1. Introduction 2. The Lifers 3. Homicide 4. Awakening 5. Atonement 6. Epilogue

John Irwin taught sociology at San Francisco State University for 27 years, during which time he studied prisons and jails. His research was published in five books. He was also a member of the Working Party for the American Friends Service Committee that wrote the influential report--The Struggle for Justice. He worked closely with the California legislature on the Uniform Sentencing Act passed in 1976.

"No one knows prisons and prisoners better than John Irwin as he uses the unique perspective of a former prisoner to inform us about 17 "lifers" serving time in California’s infamous San Quentin prison. Students, scholars, public officials and the general public must read this book!"—Randall G. Shelden, Criminal Justice, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• 1. Introduction 2. The Lifers 3. Homicide 4. Awakening 5. Atonement 6. Epilogue

John Irwin taught sociology at San Francisco State University for 27 years, during which time he studied prisons and jails. His research was published in five books. He was also a member of the Working Party for the American Friends Service Committee that wrote the influential report--The Struggle for Justice. He worked closely with the California legislature on the Uniform Sentencing Act passed in 1976.

"No one knows prisons and prisoners better than John Irwin as he uses the unique perspective of a former prisoner to inform us about 17 "lifers" serving time in California’s infamous San Quentin prison. Students, scholars, public officials and the general public must read this book!"—Randall G. Shelden, Criminal Justice, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• 1. Introduction 2. The Lifers 3. Homicide 4. Awakening 5. Atonement 6. Epilogue