ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the pains of imprisonment for long sentenced young men. Young people often had significant responsibilities - for themselves, for siblings and even parents - and considered themselves to be autonomous and self-sufficient. To be brought into the prison, forced to depend on others for financial support and no longer allowed to determine their own path was painful but most acute was the sense of being treated ‘like kids.’ For some, the most painful aspect was being defined not by their own words or actions, but by the ‘pen and ink’ of assessments and reports.