Criminal to Critic

This is the true story of James Palombo who, via his transition from drug-dealing wise-guy and convict to social worker, professor, and world traveler, has come to understand the American experiment.

James E. Palombo is adjunct faculty in the Criminal Justice Department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Randall G. Shelden is professor of criminal justice at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Palombo's book is not only an inspiring personal tale about overcoming the destructive and demoralizing effects of imprisonment, it is also about how to redirect your life towards social good. The story weaves through his troubled early life that led him to prison and his later experiences that allowed him to emerge from prison life with renewed hope and purpose. The author does a brilliant job of placing his experiences into the historical and political context of the criminal justice system, providing a running commentary on some of the most important issues facing the American experiment we call 'democracy.' Randall Shelden's valuable footnotes, foreword, and afterword open up a wider perspective of the criminal justice system. A must-read for any student of the subject! -- Dan Macallair, Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, San Francisco Palombo's understanding of political, economic, and social America influenced me greatly during my time as a student. As a licensed professional in the field of social work, I still see the significance of what was considered in the classroom. For those interested in direct service in the criminal justice and social work arenas, as well as for those concerned with macro issues like freedom, equality, war, and 'global America' this book makes for a definite read. -- James E. Golden, LMSW, MASS, Mental Health Practitioner Knowing James Palombo's success as a guest lecturer at the University of Italy and the varied and important concerns raised in his book, I recommend Criminal to Critic for both public and academic audiences. As a concerned European, there is no better time for this type of story to be told. -- Marisa Sestito, University of Udine, Italy This is the best book I've come across in quite a while. It encourages people to understand our country's concerns, while promoting dialogue and analys. The book reveals important considerations as to our attachments to democracy and capitalism while telling a true story linked to our American Experiment. I join the list of people hoping for good things to develop from this book. -- Fred Fitzgerald, MSEE, IBM Retiree