Jack Abbott

Paranoia is an illness I contracted in institutions. It is not the reason for my sentences to reform school and read more

Paranoia is an illness I contracted in institutions. It is not the reason for my sentences to reform school and prison. It is the effect, not the cause.

I am at this moment thirty-seven years old. Since aged twelve I have been free the sum total of nine read more

I am at this moment thirty-seven years old. Since aged twelve I have been free the sum total of nine and a half months.

As long as I am nothing but a ghost of the civil dead, I can do nothing.

As long as I am nothing but a ghost of the civil dead, I can do nothing.

At age nine I began serving long stints in juvenile detention quarters. At age twelve I was sent to the read more

At age nine I began serving long stints in juvenile detention quarters. At age twelve I was sent to the Utah State Industrial School For Boys... at age eighteen I was released as an adult.

The other inmates stand in a long straight line, flanked by guards, and I am dragged past them. I do read more

The other inmates stand in a long straight line, flanked by guards, and I am dragged past them. I do not respect them, because they will not run - will not try to escape.