Customer Rating: 
Summary: GREAT BOOK...nothing but the truth
Comment: If you want to read a book about TDC then this is the one. I am a former employee of TDC and was assigned to an institution where Mr. Glenn was the warden. He is a good man.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: good resource
Comment: Looking for a "cell block" eye view of Texas prisons, then this book is a good resource. The author worked his way up from Correctional Officer in the "plantation prison" era to Warden in the contemporary era of corrections. Along the way, he experienced all of the hazards, brotherhood and politics that a career in corrections can bring you. He does not let back on his opinions about Texas prisons in particular and American prisons in general. It's a good read and historical resource and I would recommend it to anyone in the corrections field or interested in the subject.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A DISSAPOINTMENT I COULDNT READ THE BACK COVER
Comment: i am interested in this book but i would like to read the back cover to see if its what i am looking for
Customer Rating:
Summary: great book
Comment: I really enjoyed this book.The history of Texas prisons is fascinating.As a Texas correctional officer I know that many of the author's opinions and concerns are shared by officers still working for the state of Texas. While you may not agree with some of the author's opinions this book as a whole is interesting reading.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Written For Those Individuals Who Actually Do The Work
Comment: This book speaks to those who actually do the work of the Texas prison system, rather than to those intellectuals and lawyers who seek to mold it without knowing the practical life and death effects that their ideas have on real, live, breathing, human beings.Mr. Glenn deals with an issue which is surrounded with myths and misunderstanding. The use of inmate guards didn't begin with the Texas prison system. It just received the most publicity there. All inmates are not created equal. Some are smarter and stronger than others. Some are natural leaders. Anyone who has ever worked in a prison knows that you can either fight this little aspect of reality, or use to your advantage in the management of the prison. Everyone does it because no one has a choice. The problem that Texas encountered with Building Tenders and Turnkeys was due to the formal nature of the arrangement. In other words, Texas was open and honest about the system, with formal proceedures for its management.
Contrast that with the situation of today in every prison system, whether it be state, federal, or 'enlightened' european; in which deals are made between the prison administration and gang leaders because it is the only realistic way of limiting inmate violence.
Building Tenders still exist, only now their existence is denied or they are called something else. So much for the lunatic dreams of Willie Wayne Justice and company.
