"This is a story of a tough young man who lost his way, and of a loving God who never forgot him, no matter where he was." -- Nicky Cruz, bestselling author of Run Baby Run The son of El Salvadorian immigrants, Casey Diaz was brought to Los Angeles at the age of two. An abusive, impoverished family life propelled Casey at only eleven years of age into the Rockwood Street Locos gang. Casey was willing to do anything to be number one, but years of chasing rival gang members led to a dramatic ambush and arrest by the LAPD. At just sixteen, Casey was sentenced to more than twelve years in solitary confinement in California's toughest prison as one of the state's most violent offenders. He thought his life was over. Yet, when a determined elderly woman paid Casey a visit, a whole new world of possibilities began to unfold. Casey scoffed as she quietly insisted God was going to use him. As the days in solitary wore on, Casey realized Someone else was calling the shots. What happened next can only be described as a miracle. Perfect for: People who believe they're too far gone Parents who want to keep their kids out of gangs - what are the warning signs Social workers who interact with at-risk youth Those looking for a gritty, informed perspective on LA street gangs and gang culture A visceral insider's look at the violent world of gangs and prison life, The Shot Caller is a remarkable demonstration of God's reckless, unending grace and His desire to reach even the worst of sinners--no matter where they are.

"On Rikers Island, tensions always run high, especially in the Enhanced Supervision Housing unit. The ESH is home to Rikers' most dangerous offenders, many of them members of rival street gangs. When Gemma Capello and her team get word of an uprising at the ESH, they know how much is at stake. Gemma also has her own unresolved feelings to deal with--this is the first case she and Detective Sean Logan have worked together since a siege at City Hall that ended with the hostage taker's death. Built to hinder escape, prisons are also especially difficult for a tactical team to invade. That's a last resort for Gemma, but the longer the inmates remain in control, holding corrections officers hostage, the greater the risk. Gemma begins negotiating with Kill Switch, a young, aggressive member of the Filero Kings gang and the inmates' spokesman. She can tell the stress level is escalating inside. That may give her team some advantages, but it soon leads to a brutal act of retribution--and threats of more to come. Navigating assumptions on all sides, Gemma desperately tries to stop the body count from rising. But with disagreements and volatility increasing all around, the only certainty is that the next misstep may be a fatal one"--

A VITAL NEXT CHAPTER IN THE ONGOING CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN AMERICA When he was in his early twenties, William Juneboy Outlaw iii was sentenced to eighty-five years in prison for homicide and armed assault. The sentence brought his brief but prolific criminal career as the head of a forty-member cocaine gang in New Haven, Connecticut, to a close. But behind bars, Outlaw quickly became a feared prison “shot caller” with 100 men under his sway. Then everything changed: His original sentence was reduced by sixty years. At the same time, he was shipped to a series of America’s most notorious federal prisons, where he endured long stints in solitary confinement—and where transformational relationships with a fellow inmate and with a prison therapist made him realize that he wanted more for himself. Upon his release, Outlaw took a job at Dunkin’ Donuts, began volunteering in New Haven, and started to rebuild his life. Now an award-winning community advocate, he leads a team of former felons in negotiating truces between gangs on the very streets that he once terrorized. The homicide rate in New Haven has decreased by 70 percent in the decade that he’s run the team—a drop as dramatic as in any city in the country. Written with exclusive access to Outlaw himself, Charles Barber’s Citizen Outlaw is the unforgettable story of how a gangleader became the catalyst for one of the greatest civic crime reductions in America, and an inspiring argument for love and compassion in the face of insurmountable odds.

At first he was just a voice on the other end of the line. Just another crank caller. Now they know he's not kidding. He has a definite plan he intends to execute. Now, the talk show cameras are rolling, and America is about to meet a real-life serial killer face to face.

In a dystopian future, the government is overthrown and the new order protects animal rights with a heavy handed brutality. Consuming meat has become illegal and the agency tasked with enforcing the law is given free reign to do as they see fit. One experienced agent has a life changing encounter that shakes his core and forces him to examine his life while putting him at risk for becoming the target of his own organization.