PRISONERS PAROLED TO THE VIOLENT STREETS

DESCRIBE THEIR LIVES TO US

 Terri L. Sharp and Joan E. Aitken

Mellen Press

 

THEMES

Home - About the Authors - Book's Table of Contents - Discussion Questions - Edwin Mellen Press - Glossary - Resources - Summaries of Stories - Themes of the Stories

 

As part of studying the nature of communication in this context, seven themes emerged:

  1. Violence is acceptable.

  2. Retaliation is expected.

  3. Power is a limited and a scarce resource.

  4. Change doesn’t appear as an option.

  5. There may not be a future.

  6. Racism is common.

  7. The government and governmental representatives are "out to get them."

 

Example Themes of Some Stories

 

Anticipate

Violence.

Expect

Retaliation.

Power is a limited, scarce resource.

Change

isn’t an option.

There may not be a future.

Racism  is common.

Government

seeks

revenge.

Moses on His Own: A Child of Violence

 

x

x

x

x

 

 

 

Sylvia: From Juarez to Kansas City

 

x

x

x

x

 

x

 

Paul: An Expired Shelf Life

x

x

x

x

x

 

 

Jamal: A Rain Garden

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Jon: Messages from Intolerance

x

x

x

x

x

 

x

Tony: The Old Con

x

x

x

 

 

x

x

Rick: A Parent’s Cry for Help

x

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharp, T. L., & Aitken, J. E. (2010). Prisoners paroled to the violent streets describe their lives to us: Understanding where social rehabilitation must begin. New York:  Mellen.

Home - About the Authors - Book's Table of Contents - Discussion Questions - Edwin Mellen Press - Glossary - Resources - Summaries of Stories - Themes of the Stories