Convicted at Birth

Riker's Island Penitentiary is an island six miles from the Empire State Building and is the world's largest penal colony, holding 17,000 inmates and 8,000 guards. CONVICTED AT BIRTH is the first book to document the prison system inside this notoriously complex and violence-ridden institution. From the inmates to the guards to the violence to the drugs, this book shows the inner workings of the prison, what's wrong with it and how it can be changed. Few know the place as well as Jennifer Wynn. As an employee of one of America's only 'ex-mate' prison programmes - a programme that continues to counsel and help prisoners after they are released - she has much practical experience working with ex-cons in everyday life and a lot to say about much-needed reform. Highly anecdotal and evocatively written CONVICTED AT BIRTH is the best of narrative non-fiction.