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"The idea that there is one 'right' term that all of us inside will find more appropriate than others is itself misguided."
"There are also those who prefer the term “convict” because it doesn’t denote guilt or innocence but simply identifies that a person was convicted of a crime and that they are incarcerated," writes Derek.
"Contrary to what folks on the outside might assume, there are people in prison who use the word 'prisoner' as a form of self-empowerment. For them, and myself, this term is more accurate because it connotes being held against one’s will."
For Women's History Month, Lucretia and fellow residents of New Jersey's only prison for women honor those who have helped them carry on and inspire others.
"If I could have one thing from the outside to warm me up, I would have a loved one. What better warmth is there but the warmth from those you love?"
Throughout most of the prison, my nickname is Tree because I’m 7 feet tall. But in the Braille room, my nickname is Ent, an allusion to the tree creatures in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” book series, which many of us have read.
It takes courage to write something like this piece. Personally, I love a good cry. Crying ought to be normalized!
For Women's History Month, Lucretia and fellow residents of New Jersey's only prison for women honor those who have helped them carry on and inspire others.
From bunks and the dayroom, these world-hardened men lead virtual lives they can only dream of behind bars.
Thank you for reading, Trish! ❤️
A suicide hotline is now available in Washington state prisons
Some welcome the resource while others fear violations of privacy and punishment for sharing their thoughts.
Alabama set to execute man who did not kill anyone. Story via @nbcnews.com.
My now-deceased friend Richard was diagnosed with cancer in 2018. However, he wasn’t told about the diagnosis until nearly a year and a half later. He had been told that nothing was wrong with him, and that he should purchase the generic Pepto-Bismol or Mylanta-type products from the commissary.
An incarcerated writer reports on Luigi Mangione's brief stay at a PA prison.
I had not touched a cat in 15 years when an orange cat wandered over to sit with me in the grass.
The incarcerated care workers of No One Dies Alone changed how I thought about dying in prison.
"I am perceived as a Black woman before I am perceived as an American, before I am perceived as a journalist, before I am perceived as human. That sequencing shapes everything. I move through the world carrying that knowledge, so I write through that lens, not despite it."
"What would the U.S. government do with our prison populations in the event of a large war or enemy invasion?" #2022
"Too many times, I’ve heard the expression, 'They’ll suck your a—— right out of you,' a reference to the toilet’s flushing power. I’ve stopped questioning how that makes any anatomical sense."
H/t to the people that donate before, during and after our fundraising campaigns. We couldn't do this work without your support.
From a new donor this week: "Important for incarcerated people to be able to tell their stories. The writing is excellent."
PJP contributor Jeffery shares the resume he’s built up while doing time.
"I wish you could know the way people in prison light up at the sight of animals."
H/t to the people that donate before, during and after our fundraising campaigns. We couldn't do this work without your support.
From a new donor this week: "Important for incarcerated people to be able to tell their stories. The writing is excellent."
"It takes a year to fully train each dog, who are typically a little over a year old when they come to us. By the end, they know 57 cues, from how to properly hug, snuggle and walk in step with you to open up cabinets, retrieve items and deliver them straight to your hand."
