In the 1980s alone, some 100 periodicals were published by and for inmates of America's prisons. Unlike their peers who passed their sentences stamping out licence plates, these convicts spent their days like reporters in any community - looking for the story. Yet their own story, the lengthy history of their unique brand of journalism, remained largely unknown. In this volume James McGrath Morris seeks to address the history of this medium, the lives of the men and women who brought it to life, and the controversies that often surround it. -The most current and comprehensive book available on correctional journalism ... a great study of freedom, confinement, communication and several nearly forgotten aspects of penal history.- -- Corrections Today -An impressively researched history of a vital, neglected aspect of prison culture.- -- Punishment & Society -Morris piece[s] together the rich and turbulent history of penal journalism...reaches beyond the publications to the fascinating lives of inmate journalists... belongs in the permanent collection of anyone interested in prisons or journalism.- -- The Angolite -Thorough in providing a history of the prison press. . . . [S]hould be considered for supplemental reading in criminal justice classes and journalism history, law, and other courses. . . . [U]seful.- -- Journalism and Mass Communications Quarterly -A splendidly researched history, a most timely message, and a deeply moving narrative.- --H. Bruce Franklin, author, Prison Literature in America -A careful, moving description of the minds and written works of American men and women behind bars.- --Ben H. Bagdikian, author, The Shame of the Prisons and Caged -Sometimes surprising and always fascinating.- --Sanford J. Ungar, former co-host, -All Things Considered- -Written with verve and insight, which in the end will get you thinking not only about journalism but also jails themselves.- --John Maxwell Hamilton, Louisiana State University "The most current and comprehensive book available on correctional journalism ... a great study of freedom, confinement, communication and several nearly forgotten aspects of penal history." -- Corrections Today "An impressively researched history of a vital, neglected aspect of prison culture." -- Punishment & Society "Morris piece[s] together the rich and turbulent history of penal journalism...reaches beyond the publications to the fascinating lives of inmate journalists... belongs in the permanent collection of anyone interested in prisons or journalism." -- The Angolite "Thorough in providing a history of the prison press. . . . [S]hould be considered for supplemental reading in criminal justice classes and journalism history, law, and other courses. . . . [U]seful." -- Journalism and Mass Communications Quarterly "A splendidly researched history, a most timely message, and a deeply moving narrative." --H. Bruce Franklin, author, Prison Literature in America "A careful, moving description of the minds and written works of American men and women behind bars." --Ben H. Bagdikian, author, The Shame of the Prisons and Caged "Sometimes surprising and always fascinating." --Sanford J. Ungar, former co-host, "All Things Considered" "Written with verve and insight, which in the end will get you thinking not only about journalism but also jails themselves." --John Maxwell Hamilton, Louisiana State University "The most current and comprehensive book available on correctional journalism ... a great study of freedom, confinement, communication and several nearly forgotten aspects of penal history." --Corrections Today "An impressively researched history of a vital, neglected aspect of prison culture." --Punishment & Society "Morris piece[s] together the rich and turbulent history of penal journalism...reaches beyond the publications to the fascinating lives of inmate journalists... belongs in the permanent collection of anyone interested in prisons or journalism." --The Angolite "Thorough in providing a history of the prison press. . . . [S]hould be considered for supplemental reading in criminal justice classes and journalism history, law, and other courses. . . . [U]seful." --Journalism and Mass Communications Quarterly "A splendidly researched history, a most timely message, and a deeply moving narrative." --H. Bruce Franklin, author, Prison Literature in America "A careful, moving description of the minds and written works of American men and women behind bars." --Ben H. Bagdikian, author, The Shame of the Prisons and Caged "Sometimes surprising and always fascinating." --Sanford J. Ungar, former co-host, "All Things Considered" "Written with verve and insight, which in the end will get you thinking not only about journalism but also jails themselves." --John Maxwell Hamilton, Louisiana State University "The most current and comprehensive book available on correctional journalism ... a great study of freedom, confinement, communication an