Prisons: Houses Of Darkness - Leonard Orland

Prisons: Houses of Darkness by Leonard Orland is a critical analysis of the American prison system, originally published in 1975. Drawing from his experience on the Connecticut parole board and his research into prison systems in Europe and Asia, Orland offers both historical context and firsthand critique of incarceration in the United States.

The book is structured in two parts. The first outlines the historical development of prisons, exploring the evolving theories behind imprisonment. The second part presents a candid look at life inside prisons, revealing the harsh realities faced by inmates and the systemic flaws in correctional policies. Orland argues that despite their supposed goals of rehabilitation and justice, prisons often operate in lawless ways, where sentencing judges, prison officials, and parole boards exercise unchecked power.

Orland proposes reforms including the abolition of indeterminate sentencing and the capping of prison terms at five years. He sees these changes as necessary steps toward creating a system governed by the rule of law, rather than one defined by arbitrary authority and institutional violence. The book stands as a call for urgent reform and a more humane approach to criminal justice.