Everything that happens in this book happened in life. Some of the characters are composites of real people. The characters Bernie, Caitlin, Dick, Frank, Jan, Jerry, Julius, Sonia, and others are not composites, although, with the exception of my own, Jerry, these are not their real names. I have used false names for all persons except myself, and most places mentioned in this book. As well, I have used other techniques to disguise many of the people encountered. In the Spider’s Web is drawn from my experience as a rehabilitation counselor in “Ash Meadow,” a prison for juveniles in Washington State, and my observations and conversations with staff and residents of that prison. In writing this book, I have relied heavily on the journal I kept during my years at Ash Meadow.