I Cried, You Didn't Listen: A First Person Look at a Childhood Spent Inside CYA Youth Detention Systems

by Dwight Edgar Abbott

Book Overview

From abused child; to child abuser; to murderer; to prison minister!

"I CRIED, YOU DIDN'T LISTEN IS THE MOST POWERFUL TALE OF HORROR WITHIN THE WALLS OF PENAL INSTITUTIONS SINCE 'PAPILLON.' THE TERRIFYING ASPECT IS THAT IT DESCRIBES AMERICA'S JUVENILE SYSTEM" - Alden Mills, ARETE MAGAZINE

"THE AUTHOR'S WELL-WRITTEN STORY COMES AT THE READER FAST AND FURIOUSLY; SHOCKING READERS INTO AN AWARENESS OF THE INHUMANITY OF AMERICA'S JUVENILE PENAL INSTITUTIONS."- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"I CRIED, YOU DIDN'T LISTEN IS A POWERFUL INDICTMENT OF A SYSTEM THAT MAY HAVE LOST TRACK OF ITS PURPOSE."- Don Davis, THE SAN DIEGO UNION

An early Winner of the "Project Censored" Award of Excellence"; I Cried, You Didn't Listen is a powerful story. It is shocking, haunting and brutal. Although it is a rare and valuable document, what is exceptional is not Dwight Abbott's experience, but his clarity and courage in sharing that experience.

Dwight tells the disturbing tale of a very young child, first committed to the care of the state because of family tragedy and bad luck. Once institutionalized, he must learn to live within the cruel dynamics of a system that grants power through violence and leaves children at the mercy of predatory adults. He is continually faced with the need to choose between dehumanizing options: Be predator or be prey. Even in Dwight's description of racialist violence we see the effect that the social system has had on him - cementing stereo-types and prejudices that become self-fulfilling prophesy.

Dwight's account is terrifying. Upon reading it, one must recognize that, faced with the stark choice between victimizing another and being a victim oneself, the morals and values that make sense in freedom fall away. Perpetrating violence appears as the best option for self-preservation. This is the fundamental dynamic at work in Dwight's institutional life. I Cried, You Didn't Listen shows that, within incarcerating institutions, violence in all its forms - sexual assault, cliques, crews, gangs, emotional abuse - is essentially about power and control both over and above one's own sense of self. -Books not Bars

"THIS IS A SEARINGLY HONEST BOOK - READ IT IF YOU HAVE THE COURAGE. DWIGHT EDGAR ABBOTT'S STORY WILL REVEAL MORE ABOUT THE SELF-FUELING HORRORS OF INCARCERATION THAN WOULD TEN OF THE AVERAGE CRIMINOLOGY TEXTS. FOR YEARS THIS BOOK HAS CIRCULATED AS AN ALMOST CULT UNDERGROUND DOCUMENT, A SIMPLE KEY TO EXPLAINING THE COMPLEX WRETCHED MESS THAT IS THE AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM." - Christian Parenti; American investigative journalist; writer of many widely published articles and author of: "LOCKDOWN AMERICA," "THE SOFT CAGE" AND "THE FREEDOM."

"SADLY, DWIGHT'S EXPERIENCE ECHOES THE STORIES OF THE THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE STILL WAREHOUSED AND DEHUMANIZED IN CALIFORNIA, BUT ALSO SERVES POWERFUL TESTAMENT TO THE NEED FOR A 180 DEGREE SHIFT IN HOW WE DEAL WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN TROUBLE." - Van Jones, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ELLA BAKER CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1470059908
• ISBN13: 9781470059903
• Release Date: April 2012
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 234 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Well Written Accumulation of Brutality Exposed

Dwight Edgar Abbott's "I Cried, You Didn't Listen", touched me in a way no other peice of literature has before. Dwight's detailed and disturbing descriptions of the abuse he encountered in the care of those whom we're expected to trust is emotionally enlightening. It is, without a doubt, more impacting than Lorenzo Carcatera's "Sleepers". There is no suspicion or skepticism in my mind regarding the authenticity of this particular book. I have no doubt that what Dwight speaks of, happened then, and happens now everywhere in the world. I have done a fair amount of research and study regarding the various disciplinary techniques used in correctional institutions. I've also researched some of the facilities that Dwight was contained at, and it is evident that abuse has occured in all these institutions, particularly El Paso de Robles School for Boys. There are several other documented abuses performed by inmates and the guards at other institutions throughout the world.In the beginning, as I had just started reading the book, it made me slightly uncomfortable. Dwight's graphic descriptions of the abuse he ecountered during his childhood is not for the ill-minded. However, Dwight makes his purpose clear. That is, to educate and make people aware of the horrors in the youth detention system. This system has failed Dwight, and it continues to fail children in the United States. The system is molding a future for these children. They claim it to be "rehabilitating" society, when in all actuality, they are molding criminals, and exposing them to sickening abuse no one should ever have to encounter.One aspect of this novel that I especially enjoyed, was Dwight's values of friendship, loyalty, and most importantly, trust. All which coincide with one another. Dwight describes his relationship with "Stubby". Their friendship is what really sets the novels plot of survival. They fight for one another, with courage I cannot describe. I encourage anyone reading this review to read "I Cried, You Didn't Listen". The book will ultimately inspire you to reach out to those in need. I'm thankful that Dwight shared his experiences with the world. It must have been incredibly hard. After reading this novel, I decided that I wanted to change my profession to psychology. It has been a true blessing in my life. Dwight, if you're reading this, I express my deepest gratitude, remorse, and compassion.

"ICried, You did not Listen, A Survivors expose of the Calif

This book came to me from a friend, I was stunned by the authors candor, his willingness to reveal what his experiences have been, and to tell what had happend to him as he was thrust into the 'system'. Not an offender, but for protection!! His choices spiraled him into a repetitive whirwind without a possibility of escape. How sad that adults abuse children to relieve their own frustrations and perversions. This book should be destributed to every high school in the country, so that these, so called, 'tough kids' can see their possible future in the makeing... by the choices they make. They do have them, this book will help them make the right ones. We were not put here, without a way out, that way out is to use our God given intelligence and a willingness to understand our nature..

Hope this One Gets Reprinted

This book deserves to be in print forever, not just for what it exposes about youth facilities, but as a story that answers the question "how do violent criminals get to be that way?"I'm an absolutely compulsive reader and have probably read 10s of thousands of books in my life. This one's on the very short list of the most memorable books I have ever read. The author really deserves to be commended for his courage in telling this story, not to mention living through it.

Mesmerizing, shocking, haunting, terrifying, bold and daring

As an incest survivor, I read this story with a horror and recognition of the feelings being described. I cried in despair at the terror being inflicted on so many. I cheered the amazing strength and desire to live displayed by the author. I felt awed by his candor.

Haunting

Searing indictment of the California Youth Authority penal system. This true story was largely ignored by the mainstream press; however, the Utne Reader exposed Mr. Abbott's book to the public. Thank goodness, too. If anyone has an at-risk juvenile, let he or she read this book. I Cried You Didn't Listen deglamorizes prison and brings all of its horrors front and center