The Forgotten Men

Reviews / Votes

"The Forgotten Men is a thorough, insightful, and engaging book that provides rich information and in-depth analysis in order to accurately convey the realities of life in prison.Leigey's book is a unique and cutting-edge contribution." - Ronald Aday (professor of sociology, Middle Tennessee State University) "On the whole, the author has accomplished her purpose of helping those that read her book to remember the forgotten men. Achieving that is an accomplishment in itself. One can only hope that other researchers follow Leigey's lead to help paint a broader picture of the dehumanizing nature of LWOP sentences." (Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books) "A profound and moving work of social science that explains in compelling prose what it means to sentence human beings to live and die in prison. The forgotten men whose life stories frame this book will be long remembered by students of penology. Leigey's superb book will guide my research and teaching in the coming years." - Robert Johnson (professor of justice, law and criminology at American University) "The Forgotten Men is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the human costs of mass incarceration in America. A compelling and compassionate account of injustice, inhumane punishment and the resilience of the human spirit, the book lays bare the devastating consequences of unnecessarily extreme sentencing policies." - Jennifer Turner (author of A Living Death: Life without Parole for Nonviolent Offenses) "By carefully recording the decades-long experiences of those sentenced to permanent incarceration, Leigey brings a much needed degree of humanity to these forgotten men. In so doing, her important contribution impels readers to consider the purpose served by lifelong prison sentences." - Ashley Nellis (The Sentencing Project) "A thought-provoking and challenging book that will generate debates, controversy and disagreements about the issue of imposing life without parole ... This book should be read by everyone - wardens, correctional staff, medical staff, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, parole boards, state directors, commissioners, victims and victims' families." (Corrections Today) "The meticulous work conducted here highlights the largely hidden costs of a life behind bars. It illuminates not only how lifers find hope in a largely hopeless situation but also how these inmates find ways of making the life they have behind bars meaningful, not only to themselves but to those around them. Ultimately, the book is a portrait of mankind's ability to not only survive in the face of terrible hardship but also to establish meaning and purpose in an environment that regularly reinforces the notion that an inmate's life has neither." (American Journal of Sociology) "Leigey's work merits a broad readership. Highly recommended." (CHOICE)