Through a Convict's Eyes: An Overlooked View of the Criminal Justice System

Edition: 1

Copyright: 2013

Pages: 164

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$45.94

ISBN 9781465219923

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Many offenders who enter our system are under the belief that they are a failure, that they are not capable of change due to their past... 

Through a Convict’s Eyes: An Overlooked View of the Criminal Justice System provides a unique perspective of the current dynamic criminal justice system by fusing the thoughts of a federal probation officer/administrator and a convicted felon.

In the criminal justice system we have overlooked, in the author’s opinion, the perspective of the individual who has made mistakes and been involved in our criminal justice process. The author believes that society to a large extent has not given credit to what we can learn from those who have committed a crime and gone through the system.

Through a Convict’s Eyes: An Overlooked View of the Criminal Justice System

  • Utilizes the belief that even though there will always be a need for prisons to house inmates who have committed serious crimes or refuse to change their behavior, offenders have the potential to become productive members of society with our help and with their own personal belief that they can change.
  • Encourages the reader to look outside the box at innovative practices to assist offenders in giving up a life of crime by being accountable to society and to their victims, as well as feeling confident that society and the system have not given up on them.
  • Engages the reader by providing the perspective of a convict. Students are attracted to Eric because of his honesty and his willingness to accept full responsibility for his actions.

Chapter 1: The Probation Officer and the Ex-Con
Chapter 2: What Drives a Person to Commit Crime?
Chapter 3: Epidemic of Drugs and Its Effects on Families and Individuals
Chapter 4: Victims of Crime: Closure versus Finding Their New Normal
Chapter 5: Public Perception of Police and Correctional Officers
Chapter 6: Defining Justice in Our Criminal Justice System
Chapter 7: A Deeper Look Inside the Prison Walls
Chapter 8: Probation Officers and Those They Supervise
Chapter 9: Rooted within the Concept of Restorative Justice: Confronting Offender Recidivism through Accountability
Chapter 10: Lessons Learned “Through a Convict’s Eyes”
 

LaVarr McBride

LaVarr McBride received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and his minor in psychology from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. He then received his master’s degree as an interdisciplinary degree candidate in public administration, sociology and economics. He has worked in the field of criminal justice for 35 years and has enjoyed his work as a correctional officer, working in several parts of the Utah State Prison in maximum and medium security, including a time on death row.

He was a state parole officer before transferring to the federal system working for the United States court as a senior United States probation officer. At the end of his career he spent the last eight years in Washington, D.C. working for the administrative office of the United States court and was an Adjunct Instructor at American University.

Mr. McBride has a passion for teaching and after his career with the Federal Government he began teaching full time in adult academia. First for Weber State University and now teaching as an Assistant Teaching Professor for Pennsylvania State University Fayette – The Eberly Campus. He is the Program Coordinator and has found great satisfaction in helping young people in their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is married to Carol McBride and they have four boys: Mitchell and his wife Jenny have three children; Justin and Hilary have 2 children with one on the way; Nathan and Sarah, and their youngest son Nicholas.

He currently works with families in death penalty and violent crime cases, helping them by finding answers to their questions and addressing their needs. He believes that both victims and offenders have specific needs that must be addressed within our criminal justice system process. For victims we must involve them more within the process and empower them to feel that they are being heard and respected.

He also believes that since many offenders will be released from prison we must find a way to transition those coming back into our neighborhoods with an understanding of their accountability and responsibility to their victims and society, but also with a belief that they can be successful with the proper guidance, opportunities, and personal motivation to be successful.

Eric Wicklund

As a United States probation officer, Lavarr McBride first met Eric Wicklund. Eric was on federal supervised release to LaVarr in 2000. This is where they began their unique relationship that has developed into a long-lasting friendship culminating in writing Through a Convict’s Eyes: An Overlooked View of the Criminal Justice System

Eric has been in and out of prison for more than half of his adult life. He now has gone almost 14 years since leaving prison for the last time. Eric finds strength from Denise whom he met soon after he was released from prison. Their relationship has had great impact on Eric’s success.

Not too many probation officers can say that they have written a book with someone they supervised, but that is exactly what makes Through a Convict’s Eyes and the authors unique. LaVarr and Eric decided to write together because of the relationship they had forged and the insight that Eric has given to LaVarr. Within their book there are many lessons learned from Eric that show how much he truly has changed and how he has found his support to be his family and friends. He no longer needs the drugs and life of crime to give him substance; he now has a support system. 

Many offenders who enter our system are under the belief that they are a failure, that they are not capable of change due to their past... 

Through a Convict’s Eyes: An Overlooked View of the Criminal Justice System provides a unique perspective of the current dynamic criminal justice system by fusing the thoughts of a federal probation officer/administrator and a convicted felon.

In the criminal justice system we have overlooked, in the author’s opinion, the perspective of the individual who has made mistakes and been involved in our criminal justice process. The author believes that society to a large extent has not given credit to what we can learn from those who have committed a crime and gone through the system.

Through a Convict’s Eyes: An Overlooked View of the Criminal Justice System

  • Utilizes the belief that even though there will always be a need for prisons to house inmates who have committed serious crimes or refuse to change their behavior, offenders have the potential to become productive members of society with our help and with their own personal belief that they can change.
  • Encourages the reader to look outside the box at innovative practices to assist offenders in giving up a life of crime by being accountable to society and to their victims, as well as feeling confident that society and the system have not given up on them.
  • Engages the reader by providing the perspective of a convict. Students are attracted to Eric because of his honesty and his willingness to accept full responsibility for his actions.

Chapter 1: The Probation Officer and the Ex-Con
Chapter 2: What Drives a Person to Commit Crime?
Chapter 3: Epidemic of Drugs and Its Effects on Families and Individuals
Chapter 4: Victims of Crime: Closure versus Finding Their New Normal
Chapter 5: Public Perception of Police and Correctional Officers
Chapter 6: Defining Justice in Our Criminal Justice System
Chapter 7: A Deeper Look Inside the Prison Walls
Chapter 8: Probation Officers and Those They Supervise
Chapter 9: Rooted within the Concept of Restorative Justice: Confronting Offender Recidivism through Accountability
Chapter 10: Lessons Learned “Through a Convict’s Eyes”
 

LaVarr McBride

LaVarr McBride received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and his minor in psychology from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. He then received his master’s degree as an interdisciplinary degree candidate in public administration, sociology and economics. He has worked in the field of criminal justice for 35 years and has enjoyed his work as a correctional officer, working in several parts of the Utah State Prison in maximum and medium security, including a time on death row.

He was a state parole officer before transferring to the federal system working for the United States court as a senior United States probation officer. At the end of his career he spent the last eight years in Washington, D.C. working for the administrative office of the United States court and was an Adjunct Instructor at American University.

Mr. McBride has a passion for teaching and after his career with the Federal Government he began teaching full time in adult academia. First for Weber State University and now teaching as an Assistant Teaching Professor for Pennsylvania State University Fayette – The Eberly Campus. He is the Program Coordinator and has found great satisfaction in helping young people in their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is married to Carol McBride and they have four boys: Mitchell and his wife Jenny have three children; Justin and Hilary have 2 children with one on the way; Nathan and Sarah, and their youngest son Nicholas.

He currently works with families in death penalty and violent crime cases, helping them by finding answers to their questions and addressing their needs. He believes that both victims and offenders have specific needs that must be addressed within our criminal justice system process. For victims we must involve them more within the process and empower them to feel that they are being heard and respected.

He also believes that since many offenders will be released from prison we must find a way to transition those coming back into our neighborhoods with an understanding of their accountability and responsibility to their victims and society, but also with a belief that they can be successful with the proper guidance, opportunities, and personal motivation to be successful.

Eric Wicklund

As a United States probation officer, Lavarr McBride first met Eric Wicklund. Eric was on federal supervised release to LaVarr in 2000. This is where they began their unique relationship that has developed into a long-lasting friendship culminating in writing Through a Convict’s Eyes: An Overlooked View of the Criminal Justice System

Eric has been in and out of prison for more than half of his adult life. He now has gone almost 14 years since leaving prison for the last time. Eric finds strength from Denise whom he met soon after he was released from prison. Their relationship has had great impact on Eric’s success.

Not too many probation officers can say that they have written a book with someone they supervised, but that is exactly what makes Through a Convict’s Eyes and the authors unique. LaVarr and Eric decided to write together because of the relationship they had forged and the insight that Eric has given to LaVarr. Within their book there are many lessons learned from Eric that show how much he truly has changed and how he has found his support to be his family and friends. He no longer needs the drugs and life of crime to give him substance; he now has a support system.