Prison journalism: How I became a scholar behind bars
A forgotten scholarship helped open the door to higher education. But it was my friends inside who helped me earn three college degrees.
Creating a national network of prison journalists. The Prison Journalism Project brings transparency to the world of mass incarceration from the inside and training incarcerated writers to be journalists, so that they can participate in the dialogue about criminal legal reform.
A forgotten scholarship helped open the door to higher education. But it was my friends inside who helped me earn three college degrees.
Meditation, music and a positive mentality are some of many ways I relieve the tension of life behind bars.
They’re overpriced, but they make dining hall food more bearable.
My chest workout regimen takes less than 30 minutes.
Experiencing the same flurries as our families sparked a sense of togetherness.
Sticking to a regular schedule gives me the mental strength needed to be productive inside my cell.
I waited three years for a visit because of my prison’s strict guidelines and policies.
Holiday decorating can be done with commissary materials and a good dose of creativity.
I hope my son does not fall victim to our generational curse.
Efforts to ban isolation have repeatedly failed. Since it’s sticking around, here’s a little tour of our hell-in-the-hole.
Holiday reflections stir childhood memories
Colorful blooms, a goldfinch and a praying mantis help me feel peace and, for a time at least, free.
Constant clamor inside prisons — from violence and mentally distressed residents — can cause serious distress for those with neurological disorders.
Tricks and treats help animate this California prison during the spooky season.
On the art of teaching incarcerated men how to bake Girl Scout cookies behind bars.
The relationship I enjoyed with my dad was unique among the men where I was incarcerated.
California’s Paws For Life K9 Rescue program helps incarcerated people learn valuable lessons from the pups they train.
Combat veterans fight daily against PTSD and its effects, with little help from the country they pledged to protect. The fight is even harder in prison.
“Hood PTSD” is experienced by children in cities across America. It’s sending people to prison and to the grave.
Serving a life sentence amid the noise and violence of prison can be maddening (literally). Here’s how I broke free (metaphorically).
Before she could fight cancer, Grandma had to fight for her diagnosis.
I was 15 when I tasted it for the first time at a German inn. The creamy hazelnut spread has been with me ever since — though it’s become harder to obtain while incarcerated in a Florida prison.
After six years in the hole, the mental exhaustion is unbearable. So is the need for human connection. A story shared by a prisoner in Pennsylvania.
Another day, another act of violence in prison. A story shared by an incarcerated writer.
Incarcerated female writer shares a poem on her strength as a woman behind bars.