a discussion of conover's "Newjack" and lamberton's "wilderness and razor wire"

Having participated in ENG 484 last semester, I have been exposed to narratives such as Jimmy Santiago Baca’s “A Place to Stand” and Richard Shelton’s “Crossing the Yard.” I gained a whole new perspective on the life of inmates and the importance of prison education during the course of these readings, and highly anticipate more of these sort of narratives.

What I encountered with Ted Conover and Ken Lamberton’s books, however, was something very much unexpected. From Conover’s narrative I was able to experience what life for a corrections officer could be like. Unlike the romanticized view of Shelton, I saw inmates at their basest, and how some can treat those who are given the responsibility to guard them. I was challenged to examine not only how inmates are treated by the officers, but also how the officers are treated by the inmates. Despite some people’s beliefs, I came to the conclusion that not all officers are power hungry or out to torture inmates; there are some who do enjoy torturing the inmates, but at the same time I feel like there are officers who act because of their job requirements – many are out there to make a living to support families, and sometimes working in a prison is the only option. This narrative taught me to question some of the blatant hate Shelton expressed toward corrections officers and realize that some are just as much a victim of their circumstances as the inmates. As Conover expressed, despite his desire to implement change, there is far too much going on in the system and too many people to have to control at once that makes change seemingly impossible.

I was also very surprised by the content of Lamberton’s book. I started the book knowing that he is a nature writer, and did a lot of writing while in prison, as well as out of prison. I expected the majority of the work to be about nature, and nothing much else. However, I realized quickly that his writing was not too unlike Baca’s, however there are vast differences. Lamberton does focus greatly on nature, but also his connection to nature and how it has been a major part of his life. In addition, his life before and during prison swims in and out of view of this narratives regarding nature – readers quickly learn about his crime, his remorse or lack of remorse regarding certain aspects of his crime and his family. I was impressed by the beauty of his descriptions of the Arizona desert and his easy transition to his ponderings on life.

What this book reminded me of was, like Baca’s book, how much inmates are human and reminisce over the same things any normal person would. One of the most moving parts for me was Lamberton trying to catch toads out on the yard with his daughters, and his regret that it has to be in a prison instead of out in the world that they are trying to catch toads. This moment in particular was very poignant to me. I was very grateful to have read this book and to have been able to meet the man himself. It was surreal and eye-opening at the same time. It has taught me that you can work with someone and know his crimes, and not feel superior. The readings in general have taught me to examine both sides – that of the officers and the inmates – and to realize there are pressures that make everyone act in a way others may not necessarily agree with.