Prison life has been well depicted in plenty of books and films, but almost always from the point of view of the inmates. Tales from the Jails tells tales that can only be told by the people who work there, and who make the system work, the Prison Officers themselves. People like Mike Gregory, whose story we partly follow, and a very disparate collection of close colleagues, like quiet and sensible Ken Carter; rough and ready Gavin Crags, Dolly 'Afterbirth' Dolby, and 'Little Shit' Teddy Hardman, almost invisible John Sparks and Bunged-up Barry Penrose. The uniformed bosses, Chiefs and senior Principal Officers, often remnants of The Raj, or Aldershot's parade ground, in Mike's day, had their own tales to tell. Tales of the 'good old days' when you could give a con a good kicking and no questions asked? Tales which most of Mike's contemporaries took with a pinch of salt. The Governors of yesteryear had been mostly from the military officer class, and their management style lasted until the present day, when accelerated, or 'side door' promotions to Governor grade were the beginning in the downward slide of standards. Mike and Ken and Dolly and Co. were lucky to serve at H.M.P. Wooten under the last of one of the old style Governors. Colleagues who joined from other jails had different stories to tell. Even so, Mike's spectacular fall from grace, through it ended his career, could have been worse, but for the Governor.