One Woman, Three Prisons: The Rise Within the Ranks June 1966 -June 2000 - Paperback

by Jo Ann M. Mertens (Author)

THIS BOOK HAS SEVERAL "ME TOO" EXPERIENCES; HOWEVER, SHE DID NOT HANDLED IT IN THE SAME WAY AS MANY WOMEN WHO HAVE COME FORWARD. IT SHOWS A WOMAN WHO HANDLED THIS ISSUE AND DID NOT LOSE A JOB. Prisons are usually not a topic for a book but when a woman worked in a non-traditional field in the late 60's and 70's, there is a story to be told-the glass ceiling, discrimination, minorities, and should give young women knowledge about the barriers broken before them. Do not take your rights for granted.Respect the ones who came before you. Read this book.The book is different from many books being written. It is not fiction. It is not a personal biography although personal events are placed in the book. It tells things that society would rather not acknowledge. It is also the personal struggle of one woman who loved the field of criminal justice and wanted to promote as far as possible. The book is not the end of the story of the author. She continued a part time career as a probation officer for ten years until the new boss (white, male police officer) was put in charge. This author filed an age discrimination suit and lost but should have filed sexual harassment because she had more experience than he, and because of that she was treated badly. He has been charged with a misdemeanor for stalking his ex-wife's boyfriend using state equipment but will get off completely. No one should retire if they are able to work. It is mentally and physically a strain on the person. Do the things you love. Volunteer. The author is now volunteering with a community service agency and a police department in their Fraud Division. This is still not what she wants. Volunteers are not the same as paid. This author wants a job in her field but knows she is now too old for consideration.

Author Biography

No category is right for this book. This is a work biography in the criminal justice field. The author was raised in a rural community in Missouri. She entered the criminal justice field (non-traditional) because she was a single mother, She could not raise her son working the traditional jobs for women. She did not want any assistance from the government. She started this career with less than adequate education by today's standards and excelled. She attended a historically black college on a LEEP grant for law enforcement. The author developed a passion for this career soon after she started in corrections. She made choices which helped her rise through the ranks in a male-dominated work environment. She did eventually hit the glass ceiling. She is still struggling with retirement and the loss of her career. The author is a one time writer. She wanted to tell her story so society would realize the struggles of women in non-traditional fields. She also wanted to validate her accomplishments in a world where people are quickly forgotten. Her love for corrections and criminal justice caused her to write a story which was different from many books being published. The author has devoted much of her life to the field but also is a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She loves to listen and dance to good music especially 70's funk. The beach including good musical performances is her passion in the summer in Virginia. The author is also a yard sale addict. She also loves consignment stores and finding unusual things or bargains. She is an ordinary woman who has worked in a world many people will never know. She loves telling the stories with other corrections workers and her family. Her family is her greatest blessing among many other blessings from God. She is now not content with retirement and longs to be back in the field.