Steve Ulmen is not new to the world of law enforcement or corrections, having devoted his entire adult life to working with the unfortunate segment of our society that ends up entangled in the criminal justice system. His new novel, (Hawkins County) draws from life at a time shortly after he started as a probation agent in a small southern Minnesota community. Ulmen was not far removed in age from the central character of the story so the thought and words come from a unique perspective. He lays bare many of the reasons for juvenile delinquency in the 1970's and shows how small mistakes can have profound, life-shattering effects on the young people and those around them.
Ulmen works hard in the piece to try to insure accuracy of places, events, slang and dress. Sometimes he fails, but the fault may be more one of memory than deceit. The writer lived through many changes in how system treats and deals with criminal offenders. The "get tough" attitudes of the 60's and 70's gave way to more permissive and gentler types of supervision in the 80's and 90's. Once again we see society and the courts demanding treatment of our youthful offenders with an iron fist.
The novel is not about whether the methods used then were right or wrong, rather it searches the soul of one young man facing an immovable system, and the effects of those encounters.
An enjoyable read and a look back into the past, particularly for those of us who lived through it as part of the "system"
Jerry Huettl, Public Safety Director for the city of Mankato, MN and model for the character of Officer Lowell McCarthy in the story. Mr. Huettl also served as an expert consultant on police procedures as detailed in the book.

Click the following link to see endorsements for this book:

Click Here.