JOHNSON WAS PUNISHED FOR THE ESCAPE WITH FOUR YEARS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT WHERE MEN CAGED LIKE ANIMALS BEHAVE LIKE ANIMALS-MAD MEN HOLLERING, THROWING FECES AND URINE THROUGH THE BARS AT THEIR CAPTORS, PLOTTING ONE ANOTHER'S PAINFUL DEMISE, AND CRYING LIKE BABIES. JOHNSON TELLS THE INTENSELY PERSONAL STORY OF HIS OWN LIFE; FROM THE STREETS OF SAN DIEGO TO THE BIG YARD AT SAN QUENTIN; FROM STATE-ORDERED STERILIZATION TO SOLITARY CONFINEMENT; AND, FINALLY, TO LIFE AS A COLLEAGUE, LECTURER, AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATE AT WESTERN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES INSTITUTE, A RESPECTED RESEARCH CENTER IN LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA. HIS STORY TRACES ONE MAN'S LIFE THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. HIS CONVERSION FROM AN ADOLESCENT, STREET-WISE, CHEAP HOOD TO A CRIME-FIGHTING MAN OF MANY DIMENSIONS. IT PROVIDES A DIRECT LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR PRISONS. HOWEVER MUCH HE MANAGED TO OVERCOME THE PAIN OF CONFINEMENT, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE REMAINS. IT IS EXPOSED HERE IN A DOCUMENT THAT OFFERS TRAGEDY (AND HUMOR, TOO) AND, ABOVE ALL, A PLEA FOR HUMANE TREATMENT OF HIS FELLOW CONVICTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)