In his book "Deaths for the Ladies," Norman Mailer addresses the societal issues surrounding prisons and their inhabitants. He advocates for a dramatic change in the way society views and engages with convicts, famously suggesting that prisons should be opened and the stories of inmates shared publicly. This perspective challenges the stigma associated with incarceration and pushes for a more compassionate and understanding approach to those who have been imprisoned.

Mailer’s controversial call to "rip the prisons open" emphasizes transparency and the need for broader awareness of the realities faced by convicts. By placing them on television, he suggests that society can confront its biases and misunderstandings about crime, punishment, and rehabilitation. Ultimately, Mailer's work engages readers in a dialogue about justice and humanity in a system often marked by isolation and neglect.