"A former parole officer shines a bright light on a huge yet hidden part of our justice system through the intertwining stories of seven parolees striving to survive the chaos that awaits them after prison in this illuminating and dramatic book"-- Hardy, a former parole officer, shines a bright light on a huge yet hidden part of our justice system: life on parole. Through the intertwining stories of seven parolees striving to survive the chaos that awaits them after prison, he stokes our outrage at the status quo and our hope that better approaches are within out grasp. -- adapted from jacket Provided by publisher.

Introduction -- Need. Emergency ; A max case ; The idea ; Ride or die ; Addicted to the lifestyle ; Homebody ; Institutionalized -- Risk. Ninety-day turnaround ; The whole person ; The descendants of masters ; A product of hazard ; Removed from circulation ; Best of the worst -- Harm reduction. The wait ; Adaptable ; Off the dole ; Constraints of time and place -- Epilogue.