Inside Out: Fifty Years Behind The Walls Of New Jersey's Trenton State Prison

by Harry Camisa

The true story of a man who spent 50 years behind the walls of New Jersey's maximum-security Trenton State Prison, first as a guard and then as a teacher. Harry Camisa witnessed 13 electrocutions, was taken hostage twice and stopped the escape of five violent felons. Camisa knew all of New Jersey's notorious criminals from 1950 through 2002, ranging from Charlie "The Bug" Workman, who killed Prohibition-era mobster Dutch Schultz; serial killer Richard Biegenwald; accountant John List, who killed his entire family and evaded capture for 17 years; to Richard "The Iceman" Kuklinski, as well as Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. This new edition of a true-crime classic includes the killing of biker Robert "Mudman" Simon by Ambrose Harris on the prison's death row. Approximately 85 B & W ill., including interior photos of the 1835 prison.

404 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Paul Jellinek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling and deeply disturbing account of the realities of Trenton State Prison, a venerable maximum security facility, and some of its more "celebrated" inmates. What makes the book especially disturbing is its complete lack of sensationalism. Lead author Harry Camisa, an eminantly likeable local Trenton guy who worked in the prison for fifty years, describes the horrific crimes that put some of its inmates there in a matter-of-fact voice that gives his account far greater power than most "true crime" accounts. The reality of these crimes, and the fact that the people who committed them are real human beings, sinks in in a way that rarely comes through in any of the more lurid crime books or newspaper accounts. To top it off, the book is exceptionally well written (partly, I'm sure, thanks to co-author Jim Franklin), using Camisa's home-grown humor and personal reflections to get the reader through what is admittedly some very grim terrain. This is one of those rare books that has changed the way I see the world.

[Jason Marinko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Martin Scorsesse’s Goodfellas chronicled decades of life in the mafia, Inside Out gives a harrowing first person narritive of a half century detailing one man’s experiences in a lifetime inside Trenton State Prison. The book reads like cinema and the descriptions put you in time and place masterfully with notorious inmates like contract killer Richard “Iceman” Kuklinsky to professional boxer turned inmate Rueben “Hurricaine” Carter, you experience life inside the wall as if you were there yourself. Fans of true crime would devour this excellent read.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly eye-opening and slightly depressing. A life sentence isn't for life unless the criminal gets life without parole. Those that do get out tend to end up back in jail after killing more innocent people. A few people manage to turn their lives around, but very few. I'm for the death penalty. At least when it's used, it definitely cuts recidivism down! This book was fascinating and the narrator is one heck of a guy, to not let the job make him bitter and full of anger or hatred towards the inmates. He stresses that he treated them with respect, but also intelligence. He knew what they were capable of, so he didn't let down his guard, but he treated them as humans who messed up, not monsters, though honestly, they were. He gave them dignity by treating them with respect. That was probably a good survival mechanism, but he seems like a naturally nice guy so it probably wasn't a stretch for him. This is a great book for anyone in the field of law or law enforcement and for those who are prison rights activists.

I wish he went more into what it was like for him working as an educator in the prison, as my grandfather was a teacher at Trenton State Prison as well and it would have been nice to have been able to fill in some gaps in what I know about my grandfather and his work.

Other than that, no complaints and definitely the thought of making sure I'm aware of my surroundings so I don't become a criminal's victim is more to the forefront of my mind.

Good book, definitely worth the read!

[John]

Author is member of my breakfast club.....provided autographed copy and I'm looking forward to his tales!!!!