CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Book Review: A sense of freedom

Book Review: A sense of freedom

Title - What does it suggest?

The title of the book suggests to avoid crime because the book is about crime and punishment in Britain and it contains an autobiographical account a boy from the Gorbals who grew up in the gang culture of the 60s to become 'Scotland's Most Violent Man' and after being imprisoned he realizes the test of freedom.

Preface

Provides us information about the author, time of story and slight touches to the criminal justice system of Britain.

About the Author and his reputation

“In 1967 Jimmy Boyle was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of another gangland figure, William Babs Rooney. During his incarceration in the special unit of Barlinnie Prison, he turned to art and wrote an autobiography, A Sense of Freedom (1977), which has since been filmed and starred David Hayman as Jimmy. On his release from prison he moved to Edinburgh to continue his artistic career. He designed the largest concrete sculpture in Europe called Gulliver for The Craigmillar Festival Society in 1976.[citation needed] The following year he co-wrote the play The Hardman with Tom McGrath, premiered at the Traverse Theatre.

Summary of the content of Book

The book essentially reads like a record of one man's life of crime. The reader is taken on a journey from when Jimmy was no more than a wee nipper shoplifting sweets from local shops to more ambitious endeavours such as breaking into stores from adjoining empty buildings, stealing from factories and learning to crack open his first safe. This is followed by accounts of his more violent adolescent years and experiences in various approved schools, borstals and prison institutions. By his early twenties Jimmy is a hardened villain, running money lending rackets, sleeping with prostitutes, selling black market liquor and often on the run from the Police. Eventually he is accused of a brutal murder and sent down for a life.

Jimmy Boyle divides opinion like no other former criminal. While the Krays are now seen as loveable rogues who were kind to their mum Boyle is still seen as a nasty piece of work even though he was never as bad as Ronnie Kray.

A pattern emerged in his life: crime led to a stint in an approved school again and again and again. Then aged 17 in 1961 he ended up in Barlinnie jail followed by Borstal for a 14 month stretch. Even this didn't knock any sense into him. (He contracted TB while inside.) Boyle is very honest about his feelings and behaviour during this period - he didn't give a damn if innocent folk got hurt in a fight - he just didn't want to get caught doing what he enjoyed, i.e., crime. Even being locked in solitary confinement in Barlinnie and a terrible beating didn't make him change his ways. He was set in his ways.

The book at this point becomes slightly repetitive since that's how his life was but Boyle always ...