Books

Alexander Berkman - Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist (1912)

Berkman was in prison for the attempted assassination of union buster Henry Clay Frick, in 1892. He was sentenced to 21 years and served 14. The book is an amazing insight into the American prison system of the time.

Eugene Victor Debs - Walls and Bars (1927)

Debs was a very interesting figure and Socialist leader. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, in 1918 (under the Sedition Act), for publically denouncing the USA's involvement in WW1, and telling people to stand against the military draft. This is part of his final speech to the Judge. Gives me goosebumps:

"Your Honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element, I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free."

Technically, I think he wrote this post-release, but it's about the prison system he experienced first hand.

Marco Polo - The Travels of Marco Polo (c.1300)

Pretty self-explanatory.

Gregory David Roberts - Shantaram (2003)

Started in prison, finished and published on the outside.