Through the stories of prisoners and their families, including her own family’s experiences, Maya Schenwar shows how the institution that locks up 2.3 million Americans and decimates poor communities of color is shredding the ties that, if nurtured, could foster real collective safety. As she vividly depicts here, incarceration takes away the very things that might enable people to build better lives. But looking toward a future beyond imprisonment, Schenwar profiles community-based initiatives that successfully deal with problems—both individual harm and larger social wrongs—through connection rather than isolation, moving toward a safer, freer future for all of us.

Regina Jackson, attractive single mom and rising curator of a newly formed arts foundation is in love with her boss, Dr. Dennis Dickerson. Dennis is elusive, at best, and totally by accident, Regina finds herself in a relationship with an incarcerated man, Ray Boden. Dennis makes trips to the prison, seemingly on business, but Regina later finds out that he is dealing drugs in the prison and is in way over his head. Ray is trying to stop the drug trade in Cell block C, while Shaka – Ray’s arch enemy – is trying to get rich by selling cocaine to the other inmates. Ray tries to solicit Regina’s help and they fall in love. In the meantime, Dennis justifies his illegal actions. He is using the money to build his museum and a reputation for himself. On a trip to the prison, Shaka tries to kill him and steals his identity. Shaka succeeds in escaping and goes to the museum to score big money and kill the object of everyone’s affection – Regina. Dennis arrives just in time to save her. Shaka is apprehended and returned to prison. Regina realizes that she truly loves Dennis and her locked down relationship must end. However, her passion for Ray won’t die. Regina agrees to come to the prison to say goodbye. When she arrives, Ray has ‘disappeared’ but she discovers her long lost father who has been incarcerated for over 25 years. Throughout the novel, Regina meets nine women who are in locked down relationships. All of these women share their stories with her which effect the outcome of Regina’s love affair. She realizes that she, in many ways, has been locked down in love. It took the love of a convict to set her free.

"35,000 Americans are arrested every day, and the number of prisoners has increased 500% over the last three decades. Truthout Executive Director Maya Schenwar shows that incarceration actually doesn't deter crime, looks at its devastating effect on families and communities, and offers more humane and more effective alternatives"--

Okyeame Kwame and Annica share anecdotes from their compelling love story and offer their unique points of view on finding and maintaining lasting love relationships.

An analysis of the U.S. prison system through real-life stories, and a look at the complex work of community-based social justice projects. Through the stories of prisoners and their families, including her own family’s experiences, Maya Schenwar shows how the institution that locks up 2.3 million Americans and decimates poor communities of color is shredding the ties that, if nurtured, could foster real collective safety. As she vividly depicts here, incarceration takes away the very things that might enable people to build better lives. But looking toward a future beyond imprisonment, Schenwar profiles community-based initiatives that successfully deal with problems—both individual harm and larger social wrongs—through connection rather than isolation, moving toward a safer, freer future for all of us. “Maya Schenwar’s stories about prisoners, their families (including her own), and the thoroughly broken punishment system are rescued from any pessimism such narratives might inspire by the author’s brilliant juxtaposition of abolitionist imaginaries and radical political practices.” —Angela Y. Davis, author of Are Prisons Obsolete? “Locked Down, Locked Out paints a searing portrait of the real-life human toll of mass incarceration, both on prisoners and on their families, and—equally compellingly—provides hope that collectively we can create a more humane world freed of prisons. Read this deeply personal and political call to end the shameful inhumanity of our prison nation.” —Dorothy Roberts, author of Shattered Bonds and Killing the Black Body “This book has the power to transform hearts and minds, opening us to new ways of imagining what justice can mean for individuals, families, communities, and our nation as a whole. Maya Schenwar’s personal, openhearted sharing of her own family’s story, together with many other stories and real-world experiments with transformative justice, makes this book compelling, highly persuasive, and difficult to put down. I turned the last page feeling nothing less than inspired.” —Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow