New York: St Martin's, (1982) dj. SIGNED hardcover first edition - The story of Jerry Rosenberg, "a New York State convict, mobster, and jail house lawyer. who was incarcerated for 46 years, longer than any other prisoner in New York State history. Rosenberg was initially sentenced to death for his involvement in the 1962 double homicide of two New York City police officers during a robbery carried out with two other Mafia-connected gangsters, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison in June 1965, after capital punishment was abolished in New York. He went on to become the first New York State inmate to earn a law degree. Rosenberg was incarcerated at Attica Correctional Facility at the time of the 1971 rebellion. In the immediate aftermath of the takeover of parts of the prison on September 9, he was one of two men elected to represent C Block on the committee of men who would coordinate action by the insurgent prisoners and take leading roles in the negotiations. Rosenberg was instrumental in articulating demands for immunity from legal and other reprisals.. . Over the three days of negotiations that followed, the issue of full amnesty proved to be a sticking point, with state officials consistently refusing to countenance the demand.[7] When the insurrection was crushed by an assault by state troopers and corrections officers, Rosenberg was shot in the knee and beaten.. . He frequently assisted other prisoners with legal issues as a jailhouse lawyer and estimated he was involved in over 200 lawsuits." (Wikipedia) This book ends with Rosenberg talking about his upcoming parole hearing - but despite his successes as a legal advocate, he never won freedom for himself. Basis for a 1986 made-for-TV movie, Doing Life, starring Tony Danza. Warmly INSCRIBED on the front endpaper and SIGNED "Steve." 277 pp,. ISBN: 0-312216173.