Dr. Richard Featherstone is Assistant Professor of Criminology and Sociology at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He received his Ph.D. in sociology specializing in law and society from Purdue University. His research explores the relationship between religious participation and crime. Dr. Featherstone has published articles discussing such topics as Robert Merton's theory of anomie, Midwest policing, and the sexual ethics of young Catholics.
2005 0-7734-5980-4 Book examines the Attica Prison uprising of 1971. Specifically, it compares and contrasts five published accounts which were authored by individuals personally involved in the tragedy. After providing a brief history of prison rioting in the United States and reviewing the context of the Attica incident itself, a content analysis of the Attica stories is provided. The analysis reveals four dominant themes: military metaphors, racial friction, the underdog, and attributing responsibility. Suggests that prison riots are largely the result of reciprocally corrosive interchanges between those who live and work within a prison facility.