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Other Reviews:
Practical, non-judgmental, and incredibly helpful…fills a huge
void in the marketplace.
- Traci Cothran, Audio Book Club
Your book is a handbook of life inside or outside a prison.
- Alvin Cooperman; Emmy award winning producer
Could be used as a tool by the courts and to orient folks to the
upheaval of an arrest.
- Rick Stoff, Audio Publishers Association, Executive Director
I must say your book was quite fascinating! How did you ever manage to
go on? I certainly tip my hat to you!
- Don Meyer, Literary Agent
Family Arrested
by Ann Edenfield is a straightforward, “user friendly”
guide to dealing with the incarceration of a loved one. Comprehensive,
the information ranges from making bail; to what to expect during a
visit to prison; to the illustrative personal experiences of a woman
whose husband was sentenced to serve 15 years,
Family Arrested
is practical, well-researched, and filled from cover to cover with
absolute need-to-know information. If you have a jailed or imprisoned
friend, spouse, or family member, then give a careful reading to
Family Arrested
.
- The Midwest Book Review, Editor in Chief James A. Cox
I listened to your audiobook and it is excellent. Your writing is so
clear and solid and you read the book beautifully. I personally enjoyed
the "story" parts more than the advice part since I don't have
a loved one incarcerated. But, I can see how this book would be of
tremendous value to those who have gone through a similar experience.
- Grady Jim Robinson, Motivational Speaker
I have read your book. It's not a subject with which I was familiar,
but I really found it very interesting and hard to put it down....and
very well researched, organized and written. This book will be very
helpful to people who find themselves having to go through the type
of ordeal which you and your family did. It's quite a tribute to you
and to your faith to be able to share this with others and allow
others to learn from your first-hand experiences and the knowledge
you have accumulated.
I am pleased that your book has been so well received......this
confirms the book's quality and the need for such a book in uncharted
waters. It should be especially pleasing to you to contemplate how
many people will benefit from your work. I always say God's ways
aren't really mysterious, just so amazingly glorious and loving for all
of us created, that they're impossible for anyone to imagine until they
have seen His work. Thanks for writing the book.
- President of large publishing distribution company
WHAT THE PRESS IS SAYING
Each suggestion is shared in an easy-to-read form that should be
on the shelves of every battered women’s shelter, homeless
shelter, prison library, halfway house, and public defender’s
office.
- Richard Benke, Associated Press
WHAT CHURCH LEADERS & CHAPLAINS ARE SAYING
This book could be the most significant book of this decade! It's
possibilities for help, comfort, understanding, inspiration, and
faith are endless.”
- Doris E. Milligan, LOGOS System Associates
This is a story of faithfulness and perseverance that bolsters courage
and offers hope. Ann Edenfield shares her story in ways that may help
us examine our own attitudes of rejection or compassion.
- The Rev. Dr. Randall Webb, President of Global LOGOS
Ann Edenfield has put into this book her very heart and soul for
families who are trying to piece together a life out of chaos.
- The Rev. Dr. Paul C. Collins, Prison Chaplain
It is a book without equal.
- John Charles, Director Public Relations, Crystal Cathedral
Ministries
… find it as gripping as a novel. I think all parents would
benefit from (the) suggestions.
- Sandy Bishop, American Bible Society, Operations Manager
I am encouraging and requesting you all to buy and read the book
Family Arrested
by Ann Edenfield, the founder and Director of Wings Ministry. Before
you come for your next service or activity at the prison, I suggest
all to have read it and forward to me your suggestions on how to get
this book to every inmate. It is an excellent source of encouragement
for you as volunteers as well as encouragement and resourceful to our
incarcerated women. My goal for the next 18 months is to get this book
in the hands of every inmate that comes through our doors...starting
with RDC. Therefore we would need lots of financial help to do this.
- Chaplain Shirley Payne, Women’s Correctional Facility,
Grants, NM
Very helpful – very practical. I was impressed
with your honesty…you have been able to create a ministry out of
the ashes of your experience.
- Mike Yaconelli, President and Founder of Youth Specialties
I have just finished reading
Family Arrested
and gained more insight into the turmoil that families of prisoners
experience. My 23 years of experience in working with prisoners as a
chaplain immersed me into some of the turmoil, but you have shared how
it is further reaching and impacting literally all of life that I have
ever been made privy to.
The information on the inner workings of a prison system is extremely
valuable to prisoner's families. May times I have responded to calls
from family asking questions that were addressed in your book. I found
information and resources that I was not aware of. While every prison
system is different, they have the same components addressing the same
issues.
You are a Survivor! I understand the exasperation of dealing with
bureaucracies. I am most pleased to hear that our Heavenly Father turned
your experience into a Romans 8:28.
- Chaplain Don Snyder, New York
It's fascinating! It's just full of good, practical advice for family
members that must be invaluable to them. But also the personal stories
are so interesting to read. What a picture of the trauma that your
family endured.
- Liz Perraud, LOGOS System Associates Northeast Regional Director
Ann Edenfield's book, Family Arrested, is an awesome book. Every inmate
and their families should be required to read this book. Ann has covered
every possible question that could be asked when a family has been
incarcerated. This book was not written from a stale, statistical angle,
but was written from the personal experiences of a woman whose own
husband was incarcerated. Ann has taken what could have been devastating
and turned it into something that would benefit others by providing
information that is not readily available.
- Libbie Combee, Leland Family Ministries
WHAT CORRECTIONAL LEADERS ARE SAYING
A must for families of an inmate. Ann brings rays of faith when all
seems hopeless.
- Cel Vigil, Criminal Justice National Consultant
Edenfield’s
Family Arrested
is a
must read
for corrections’ administrators, criminal justice students, and
the families of defendants who are facing incarceration. In all of my
33 years in law enforcement I never considered what has to be faced by
the “other victim” of most crimes – the family of
the prisoner.
- Lou Campanozi, Retired Police Chief
Although the focus of her information is to help those victims, her
book is a must read for anyone who truly desires to understand the full
meaning of incarceration.
- Eloy L. Mondragon, former New Mexico Secretary of Corrections
This book is filled with practical suggestions and coping strategies
…
- Jim Mustin, Executive Director Family and Corrections Network
Ann is to be commended for shining a little light on an otherwise
darkened corner of American society.
- William Harmening, Former Manager of the Federal Bureau of
Prisons Halfway Program
Ms. Edenfield’s enthusiasm and passion for what she does and
believes in has proven to be promising and invaluable. Inmates without
family or community connections are at a much higher risk of failing
when they are released. Ms. Edenfield makes every effort to provide
support and encouragement for inmates and their families so that they
may be successful in life. Her desire is to promote family reunification
and support children’s needs so that they are able to build
their lives on a solid foundation and thrive.
- Joe R. Williams, New Mexico Secretary of Corrections
I read the book and LOVED it. You have done a great service to so many
families with your forthright advice and with your sharing of the
difficulties you faced. The Lord is using you to bring comfort to
many.
- Judge Mike Jeffery
I realize that mere words cannot portray the pain and suffering that
you experienced during your ordeal, but somehow you were able to pull
the reader into the situation to the point where the pain and anguish
were felt. As you point out in your book, all correctional systems are
different with a wide variety of rules and regulations. Working in
corrections also kept me close to my faith. I have no idea how anyone
can survive and get through life without having God in their life. You
certainly could not have made it through your ordeal without His
presence in your life then or now.
- Warden Ted Koehler, retired
WHAT CIVIC LEADERS ARE SAYING
Edenfield not only gives families the tools and guidance they need to
copy and rebuild their lives, but also offers challenge to communities,
institutions, and congregations about how they can be sources of help,
hope, and healing for these spouses and children, who are too often
shunned or forgotten in their time of greatest need.
- Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Director of Family and Congregation
Initiatives, Search Institute
It is so readable and so honest. I could sit at Ms. Edenfield’s
feet and learn a lot.
- Ginger Newlin, Child Therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Whatever social-economical level you are on, you will find help in Ann
Edenfield's new book,
Family Arrested
. She gives step-by -step instructions on what to do and what to expect
when your loved one is imprisoned. This is a must read for anyone who
has a family member or friend in prison. Cheers to Ann for having the
courage to write a well overdue book on this sensitive subject.”
- Jim Tewell
Endorsement:
Family Arrested
is
the
basic primer for everything you needed to know about the criminal
justice system and what it means to you and your family on a personal
basis beginning at an arrest, through the trial, and during
incarceration. If you or someone in your family has been arrested, you
must
read this book!
- Richard Winn Henderson, M.D.
This book is a wonderful handbook that I am sure will be utilized over
and over again for years to come.
- Karen Hughes
I loved how you interspersed your own experience in with the advice to
others - the book's impact would be so much less if you didn't come into
this having gone through it yourself. For that reason too, beginning the
book with your own (gripping - and written grippingly) story was a very
good thing. I admired the way in the first part of the book you told the
story of your husband's imprisonment and its results on your family and
also provided detailed advice - and didn't go into a lot about your
faith, the religious aspects etc. until the last section. I think this
made it so that anyone, of any faith could see them self in your story
and absorb the advice you gave. You let the reader know that the last
part of the book was more about you and your personal faith journey.
This seemed kind, humble, and light-handed.
I loved the carefully built detail in your advice. Even though I
(thankfully) don't have need of the advice for things like what to pack
up for a loved one, details like that really helped me understand some
of the complexity and enormity of going to prison, being in prison,
being a family member in a way that no general description could. Those
details in themselves gave me something more like a first-hand
experience of this other world.
- Cynthia Gair
WHAT ATTORNEYS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS ARE SAYING
Family Arrested
taught me many things about the prison system and how families can cope
with what is an extremely traumatic situation.
- Tom Smidt, Attorney
I read your book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Having worked with
inner-city youth returning to high school after incarceration, it hit
home.
- Joan Rodriguez, Attorney
I have read FAMILY ARRESTED, and it is wonderful ...no one is thinking
clearly when these things happen - no one has an understanding of the
legal system when they suddenly get thrown into it. This book addresses
the things a family in distress would not know to think about, but needs
to. Additionally it is a time when the family member left behind (quite
often a man with his children these days) needs to talk to someone, and
no one is interested beyond the dirty gossip part. This book takes the
place of 'someone to talk to' about the things the devastated spouse
needs to know.
- Ann J. Cunningham, Esq.
I really enjoyed your book. I have worked as an attorney at the Public
Defenders (PD) office for almost eight years now and I have had to deal
with numerous family members. I think your book should be essential
reading for PDs, particularly for new felony attorneys. Often, I have
noticed my fellow attorney being short with their client's family.
Mainly in part to our high case load. Your book serves as a great
reminder that families of the defendant, many times are even more
impacted by the consequences of the crimes than even the defendant. I
really liked the fact that you book was easy to read and very well
organized. I think that you have touched on every topic that has been
asked of me in past by family members.
- Maria Dominguez, Public Defender
WHAT INMATES ARE SAYING
Thank you just doesn’t seem to say enough for all the
HEART
and Energy you put into getting it (your book) into print! It really has
so much, in such an easy to access form! I have to admit that during and
after reading it, I wanted to bang my head against a wall...Your book in
such a clear, matter of act, easy and quick to read format, left me
feeling like there wasn’t much I did right on any level, from the
beginning to the moment I turned the last page. It’s truly is SO
very easy to get lost in thinking we’re the ones suffering, and
over look the incredible suffering and struggle our spouses, family, and
friends are subjected to! They are the ones making all the tough choices
and living the consequences of our bad choices! Yes, you covered
beautifully so much of both the legal and most challenging aspect of the
emotional stability involved in surviving with an intact and healthy
family connection and relationships.
- Inmate David R.
This book is incredible. Every family with a loved one incarcerated
should have this book. Most think they are the only ones who have
someone going to prison, when thousands are caught up in the same
tribulation. For whatever reason when others share the same
circumstances, the ‘why me’ is easier to swallow. You were
clearly thorough in the preparation process before incarceration, right
down to getting the storage shed for your possessions. (We had to do
that). The overall basics were covered throughout, with the difference
in institutions and regulations you were incredibly accurate. Nice job.
- Ray Paulson, Inmate
One's first experience with the justice system as an accused is a
horrifying time. Instead of being on the "right-side" of the
law and having the system as an ally, one is cast as the "bad-guy
" and the system loses all empathy for you. At such a time
confusion reigns and it is not clear what the priorities and correct
action should be. If one has one clear thought, it should be to read
Family Arrested
. Ann Edenfield provides the information necessary to make your choices
more informed and avoid many pitfalls; how to choose an attorney, make
bail and bond, even the possibility escape or suicide? Do NOT expect any
of the authorities to have compassion for you. Their job is to protect
the public from "bad-guys" and you're one. Ms. Edenfield's
story about financial difficulties with the IRS is typical of the
response you can expect from the spectrum of officials that you will
encounter - they will make your life harder, not easier. I suffered
throughout probation because of a mistake I made in the Pre-Sentence
Investigation (PSI). I expected a bit of understanding, but my comments
were exaggerated and used against me. Ann correctly points out the
importance of the PSI.
Besides dealing with the system, one also has family, friends, neighbors,
and their church. None of these will be easy. Some will provide support
and others will abandon you.
Family Arrested
offers great advice in handling the personal relationships - some of
which will become invaluable. Time will pass and get better, but the
journey will be much smoother if one follows the wisdom in
Family Arrested
.
- LR, a former inmate
Your "wings" are definitely spreading as you sweep the country
with your philosophy and love for others in greatest need. Truly God has
blessed your work and given you so much joy in seeing your program grow
into much more than the initial seed you planted when you began it all.
I am very impressed with your work and will continue to follow your
journey. I finished your book and was very impressed with the message it
sent. Too bad it wasn't around when I went through my own experience. I
continue to work hard to be an example for those still facing
difficulties in accepting responsibility for whatever got them into
trouble to begin with. Life is indeed a challenge from where I have
been, but the road back to where I am now has been rich and wonderful.
So much has been gained by just meeting the demons head on instead of
running from them like I did in the past. Please know that I deeply
appreciate the work you are doing and the love you are spreading around
the country.
- Ben Gastellum
I have to admit the book took me for a real loop. The things Ann
Edenfield shared were very deep, even for someone like myself. The book
allowed me to see and accept my wife’s decision to move on with
her life. The one thing we can never get back is “Time”, and
happiness is something that can not be placed on “Hold”.
Every man incarcerated should read it in order to see the reality of
what our actions have caused our family to suffer through.
- Kaleem K., inmate
WHAT INMATES’ LOVED ONES ARE SAYING
I want you to know how I blessed I feel to have found your book. I
finished the audio version yesterday and when your pastor spoke at the
end, it filled my heart with faith and hope for a better life for all of
us. "Thy Will and not mine own" is truly the mantra I live my
life by. I had to learn as a very young child to find comfort where I
could, and yet again, God has comforted me through your book. Your words
really touch my heart! Thank you!
This book is almost impossible to describe when it comes to the amount
of help it is able to give a person. I have been comforted emotionally,
physically and spiritually because of the many threads you weave
together to show the "whole life" impact that a loved one's
incarceration creates for families. The devastation that results, so
immediately, is truly, as you say, like death. I am healing in many
ways, but it is still an uphill battle. Your book soothes me every time
I pick it up. I haven't lost my mind; I will NOT lose my sanity. I am a
strong and capable woman, and I am grateful to you for helping me to
allow that for myself.
I love the affirmations you include. That in itself is a good place to
start creating self esteem.
- Cathie Raines, Inmate’s Wife
I truly enjoyed the book. It is the fastest I've read in a long time I
must say. It held my attention and had much needed information for those
that might be new to the prison system. I will highly recommend it to
others. I intend on going over the book a few times and like that you
had forms and a few pages on contact numbers and lists, etc. I think
those are extremely important. There are many young inmates that would
benefit from this book as well.
- Teresa, Wife of an inmate
He read
Family Arrested
, and was so extraordinarily affected by it. He wrote me a letter
telling me that although he knew it had been tough for me out here, his
only real focus had been on himself. He said that he had found it
extremely challenging for him to get into the book because it brought up
all of his feelings of responsibility, guilt, and shame. "Facing
that fire" within himself, he said, was the best medicine. He was
awestruck by the way you processed through your life, and what your
present life looks like now. He said it brought him to a place of
extreme humility and has been so appreciative of me, and our family. I
know we still have miles to go Ann, but your book has been pivotal in
our experience.
- Cathie, Wife of an Inmate
Congratulations. Your book has certainly helped me, and I applaud what
you are doing. Unfortunately, I don't think my marriage will survive,
and as you warned in your book, his time at home was not a healing time
as we had hoped. I especially admire you for continuing your work even
after your marriage failed. Honestly I don't know how you did it,
because I am numb all over. I have learned so much about the prison and
legal system, stuff I didn't want to know, stuff I'm shocked and sorry
that I do know. It amazes me that you were able to channel all the
emotions (and there's a broad range of them, believe me) that I'm
feeling now, and that you must have felt, into such a positive and
blessed program. I guess, now that I think of it, that is why you were
called.
- Lori, Wife of an Inmate
I believe that I had to experience and go through all the pain and
heartache, trials and tribulations that I have in order to be
compassionate, accepting, non-judgmental and supportive of those who are
where I have been and am going. I had to suffer in order to learn and
grow and to serve others. I just want to thank you again for your book.
It is divinely inspired and a great resource for all of us going through
this journey. Although most of the families I will be serving will have
loved ones going into the state prisons, I see your book as transcending
and relevant to both federal and state. It feels so comforting to
connect with someone who has been there.
- Carolyn, Wife of an Inmate
I read your book and I must tell you how useful that book is going to be
for SO MANY people…it’s the kind of book that SHOULD be on
the shelves of every major bookstore in this nation. It is estimated
that within the first decade of the 21st century, one in twenty
Americans will be in prison. That’s five percent of the
population, roughly!
- Tilda, mother of an Inmate
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