Screwed: The Truth About Life as a Prison Officer

Contents

Screwed is Thompson's account of his time serving seven years in some of the UK's toughest jails. The action is set around "HMP Romwell", a fictional prison. Thompson created HMP Romwell to protect the identities of the establishments he worked in and the colleagues he worked with. Throughout the book, the author describes his day-to-day duties. It is a "warts and all" memoir; Thompson does not hold back his views about being a prison officer in the 21st century. He describes how his career comes to a halt when an inmate accuses him of using excessive force.

Reception

The book led to acclaim and controversy. The book was praised by serving officers, serving prisoners, and magistrates. Debate resulted from the commonly avoided social issues Thompson deals with. Furthermore, the book's brutality and obscene vocabulary led to criticism, but Thompson insists that this is a reflection of how prison life is and how he lived. The novel also deals with themes such as the abuse of inmates by other inmates and also by prison officers. It also highlights the ways in which Thompson copes with interacting with inmates who have committed crimes involving children. He describes how he strives to endure life as a prison guard by maintaining a tough exterior, bending the occasional rule and also by being approachable. His life as a prison officer ultimately leads to strains in his marriage and has a profound effect upon his relationship with his son.