The Prison Guard's Daughter

My Journey Through the Ashes of Attica

By: Deanne Quinn Miller, Gary Craig

Narrated by: Rosemary Benson

On September 13, 1971, armed troops and corrections officers at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York slaughtered 29 rioting prisoners and 10 hostages in a hail of gunfire. Negotiations for a peaceful resolution had stalled. The sticking point was the prisoners' final demand: amnesty for their murder of correctional officer William "Billy" Quinn, committed four days earlier during the takeover.

Deanne Quinn Miller was five years old when her father was killed, the only Attica employee to die at the hands of inmates. For nearly 30 years, authorities attempting to protect law enforcement fed Deanne Quinn Miller lies about Attica, its aftermath, and her father's death. Here she tells of her relentless quest for truth and justice-for herself, her family, and an entire community.

After the state settled a long-standing lawsuit with injured Attica inmates by awarding them $12 million, Miller cofounded the Forgotten Victims of Attica and succeeded in getting the same compensation for the hostages and their families - who had received no support from the state. As Miller lays bare the truth about her father's death, the world inside Attica, and the state's reckless raid and coverup, she conveys a narrative of compassionate humanity and a call for prison reform.

©2021 Deanne Quinn Miller and Gary Craig (P)2021 Tantor

I wanted to like it

I vacillated from enjoying to disliking several times throughout the tale; thinking, "okay, now I know where this is headed" to "nope, just went somewhere else instead." Story accurately blames cops/NYS, but COMPLETELY glosses over any culpability of prisoners as the ultimate cause of her loss. 5* in empathy for the author but 2* for this chronology.

Very worth the price (or credit)

An excellent, heart breaking listen. What the state has done to these families is a travesty. Dee is a friend, and a wonderful person. This book is so personal, and bares her soul. It’s narrated well, and while the material is horrifying, it’s thoroughly enjoyable.

History

This is important history...and a tale of the long lasting effects. Highly recommended for those who know the history and those who don't.