I Witnessed a Man Attempt to Kill Himself in Prison
"It was then I realized that I live in a continuous cycle of trauma. Would I outlast it?"
Prison Labor in Texas is Modern-Day Slavery
Working without pay in Texas prisons is a loophole in the 13th Amendment that the state takes full advantage of.
I Started Using Heroin Inside. Now the Federal Bureau of Prisons Won’t Give Me Treatment.
Drug overdose was the second most frequent cause of death among people in the federal system’s custody from 2014 through 2021, according to an audit by the inspector general.
Both Prisons and the Public Rely On Incarcerated Writers
New York tried and failed to limit art and writing behind bars. The attempt should remind us all of the public and personal benefits of encouraging creative expression inside.
The Harshest Pains of Prison Are Suffered Inside
In a world where all you have left are your emotions, guilt, anxiety and helplessness are the hardest to bear.
What It’s Like to Live in One of the Country’s Deadliest Prison Systems
Alabama’s prison homicide rate is among the highest in the country, leaving many changed people to die behind bars.
Three California Lifers Serve Time for Murders They Didn’t Commit. Is Relief Possible?
SB 1437 repealed an archaic “natural consequences” felony-murder law. Three men convicted under that law say they’re entitled to resentencing.
In Prison, I Lost the Right to Motherhood
My actions led to a prison sentence meant missing out on many of life’s milestones.
The Most Creative Entrepreneurs Are in Prison
Combine inflation with stagnant wages, and the prison economy gets even more busy.
New Jersey’s Failures to Provide for Mentally Ill People in Prison
"No one seems to care about the incarcerated men with mental health issues who bang and scream above my head."
In Prison, Christmas Can Help You Feel Human
Two PJP staffers on spending the holidays inside, and what it means to give hope.
An Incarcerated Christmas
PJP contributors share their reflections on celebrating the holidays inside.
As a Muslim Incarcerated in New Jersey, I Worry I Will Be Cremated When I Die
I will likely live the rest of my days in prison. But before I do, we need a process to ensure our Islamic burial rites.
Surviving Solitary Confinement in Arizona
Efforts to ban isolation have repeatedly failed. Since it’s sticking around, here’s a little tour of our hell-in-the-hole.
San Quentin Is Decaying. California Has No Clear Plan to Fix It
The prison will be turned into a new-age rehabilitation center, but over $1 billion in maintenance needs are being neglected.