When the evening was over, Tarnower was dead and Harris was charged with his killing. At 71, Harris shows no sign of slowing down on her crusade. She has authored three books about prison life and prison babies. So she has picked up their mantle. Shortly after her release, Harris and her former warden testified before a congressional committee considering the federal crime bill, on the needs of children born in prison and the children of incarcerated mothers.
Crime begins in the crib.
It is America's greatest failure. For young children born to the violence and hopelessness of poverty, crime becomes a rational occupational choice. Harris noted that 10 percent of all violent crimes are committed by children between 10 and 17. Over one million teenagers are raped, robbed, assaulted, shot, stabbed, beaten or killed by their peers. Harris says building more prisons and incarcerating more women and mothers than ever before, is not the answer.