South, who has worked at Whitemoor , Wormwood Scrubs and Belmarsh prisons as an officer, senior officer and custodial manager, said of her book: “Prisons are home to almost 80,000 men, women and children in England and Wales, and yet very little is known about what it’s like to live and work in these places. You are alongside her as she wrestles with the extremes of the people in her care, as well as her own feelings and duties towards them. She provides a critical examination of the prison system, questioning the effectiveness of punitive measures and advocating for alternative approaches to rehabilitation. Alex is a hugely talented storyteller and I look forward to pressing this important book into many, many hands.

I was a female prison officer for ten years. This is what I saw

I thought I’d see people who were “not like us” and I was thinking about the potential for violence,’ she says. This is a no holds barred depiction of life in prison and its many devastating and astonishing, and sometimes inspiring, consequences. She takes us by the hand, behind the gates and through security into prison cells, to the shared kitchens, the prison library, down the corridors and into the ‘seg’ (segregation unit). This raw honesty adds depth and authenticity to her narrative, allowing readers to empathize with the emotional challenges faced by prison officers. Behind These Doors reads like her attempt to alleviate that isolation by taking us inside a world we are reluctant to see, making it our problem too.Telling their stories, as well as her own, Alex shows that being understanding of each other and approaching difficult subjects can be freeing. In a small, hidden room at the foot of a narrow flight of steps in Florence, the walls are covered in charcoal sketches, including one of a muscular male nude. Alex South, the author of “Behind These Doors”, is a seasoned professional in the world of corrections. During the Covid lockdowns, when we couldn’t go anywhere very far, my Instagram feed was full of friends on strolls in sunny cemeteries.

Behind these Doors: Stories of Strength, Suffering and Behind these Doors: Stories of Strength, Suffering and

Anita Bean, a sports dietician and the author of The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition, says that eating an easy-to-digest snack 30-90 mins before a workout can help to improve performance. Through her candid and honest storytelling, South provides readers with a deeper understanding of the emotional toll and moral dilemmas that prison officers often face. By highlighting the often overlooked issues faced by both inmates and staff, the book encourages readers to engage in meaningful discussions about the criminal justice system and the potential for positive change. Alex South is a former Prison Officer with ten years' experience working for Her Majesty's Prison Service.In the realm of contemporary literature, K Patrick’s novel “Mrs S” has emerged as a captivating and thought-provoking tale of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of identity. Now she is at home with a two-year-old and a baby, and her book is a plea on behalf of prisoners and prison staff – for investment and to be given a chance. It starts with her early years on the job, finding her way, building relationships with prisoners and learning ‘jail craft’ (a PO’s sixth sense that something is wrong). She is also a member of the Crown Court Appeal Panel, sitting on appeals against decisions made in the lower courts. This experience was the first of many that would shape her understanding of prison life and the challenges faced by those who work within the system.