Overview

Madam Warden is the insightful memoir of an idealistic innovator who became a prison warden. It carries the reader through Pam Withrow's first-woman roles at Camp Brighton and Jackson Prison and toward her appointment as the first woman to head a male prison in Michigan-the Michigan Dunes Correctional Facility. The book tells of memorable staff and prisoners, shares stories about colleagues and mentors, and recaps incidents at prisons where Withrow worked during her twenty-five-year career. It covers the joys and challenges of prison administration and offers lessons learned. Finally, it follows her efforts to implement and research cognitive programs for prisoners at the Michigan Reformatory, including a chapter about a prisoner who used his cognitive skills to turn a life sentence into a term of years and earn parole.

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9781958363386

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Reviews

Many people write books based on academic study, research, and interviews. This book is written by someone who truly walked the walk and talked the talk. Pam is a practitioner who made a difference in the lives of those she worked with and those in her custody. Her leadership and insight come through clearly in this book, and I recommend it to anyone interested in the real world of corrections. She has grasped the good and the bad, and reminds us all why this is a profession that deserves far more respect than it receives in the media and Hollywood. -Patricia Caruso, retired director, Michigan Department of Corrections, and recipient of the E. R. Cass Award from the American Correctional Association and the Michael Francke award from the Association of State Correctional Administrators This is a powerful book written by a pioneer in modern correctional administration. Her journey is filled with adventure, victories, personal sacrifice, and stories of innovation. All can learn from this book no matter what profession they are in. -Melvin L. Williams, executive director, North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents, and former warden Committed to her beliefs in feminism and the human potential, Warden Withrow courageously shares vivid and honest insights into her personal life and the prison environment. Her extraordinary story is an inspiration and will not be forgotten. -Tekla Miller, former Michigan Dept. of Corrections warden and author of The Warden Wore Pink Pam Withrow has left an invaluable account of a career in the very male Department of Corrections at the crucial point when women began to take positions of leadership, giving the reader a lively account of three sources of support-innovative male mentors, supportive women colleagues, and professional organizations-that worked to counter the antipathy that greeted this woman pioneer. The reader comes to understand how Withrow was able to promote humane facilities for prisoners and staff by dint of her own quiet methods, strategizing, and tireless work. -Leslie Page Moch, professor of history emerita, Michigan State University Madam Warden is a richly detailed memoir of Pam's life and exemplary career. She acquaints the reader with all aspects of personal and professional skills, competencies, and the courage required to achieve organizational change regardless of the age, size, security level, and history of a prison. -Sharon Johnson Rion, retired CEO of TransCor and former warden in the US and England

"""Many people write books based on academic study, research, and interviews. This book is written by someone who truly walked the walk and talked the talk. Pam is a practitioner who made a difference in the lives of those she worked with and those in her custody. Her leadership and insight come through clearly in this book, and I recommend it to anyone interested in the real world of corrections. She has grasped the good and the bad, and reminds us all why this is a profession that deserves far more respect than it receives in the media and Hollywood."" -Patricia Caruso, retired director, Michigan Department of Corrections, and recipient of the E. R. Cass Award from the American Correctional Association and the Michael Francke award from the Association of State Correctional Administrators ""This is a powerful book written by a pioneer in modern correctional administration. Her journey is filled with adventure, victories, personal sacrifice, and stories of innovation. All can learn from this book no matter what profession they are in."" -Melvin L. Williams, executive director, North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents, and former warden ""Committed to her beliefs in feminism and the human potential, Warden Withrow courageously shares vivid and honest insights into her personal life and the prison environment. Her extraordinary story is an inspiration and will not be forgotten."" -Tekla Miller, former Michigan Dept. of Corrections warden and author of The Warden Wore Pink ""Pam Withrow has left an invaluable account of a career in the very male Department of Corrections at the crucial point when women began to take positions of leadership, giving the reader a lively account of three sources of support-innovative male mentors, supportive women colleagues, and professional organizations-that worked to counter the antipathy that greeted this woman pioneer. The reader comes to understand how Withrow was able to promote humane facilities for prisoners and staff by dint of her own quiet methods, strategizing, and tireless work."" -Leslie Page Moch, professor of history emerita, Michigan State University ""Madam Warden is a richly detailed memoir of Pam's life and exemplary career. She acquaints the reader with all aspects of personal and professional skills, competencies, and the courage required to achieve organizational change regardless of the age, size, security level, and history of a prison."" -Sharon Johnson Rion, retired CEO of TransCor and former warden in the US and England"

Author Information

Pam Withrow was born into an Indiana farm family near the midpoint of the 20th century, moved to Michigan in the turbulent '60s, and was a pioneering woman in the Michigan Department of Corrections. After a shotgun marriage, she returned to college, divorced, became a welfare mother, and completed a BA at Michigan State University. With the help of a bus-driver boyfriend, she began work with the Michigan Department of Corrections in 1976. After only two years, she was promoted to become the first woman to supervise a camp for male felons. This was followed by work as the housing deputy inside Jackson prison, which led to her appointment as the first woman to head a male prison, the Michigan Dunes Correctional Facility. She then served as the warden of the Michigan Reformatory, one of three penitentiaries in the state. She introduced cognitive work with prisoners while at the Reformatory, and it is now used throughout the department. She was named Warden of the Year by the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents, received honorary doctorates from Grand Valley and Ferris State Universities, and was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.

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