I know before I was part of the system, I never gave any thought to the individuals living at the facility near the point of the mountain. I was well into my adult years before I learned the difference between jail and prison. It just wasn’t part of my life. That’s the case for many people ...

A prisoner who was paroling soon told me, “Because I’m never coming back to prison, I’m going to get as much ink (tattoos) as I can before I leave.” While it is definitely positive he plans on this being his only trip to prison, it is sad because he has little idea of what it will take ...

“If you don’t like it, don’t come to prison.”That’s something I’ve said in regards to a number of issues people are fighting to improve within the system – things like mail being delivered late or not at all, bad tasting/non-nutritious food, and being victims of profiteering. ...

Coming to prison makes one feel like a failure, naturally and justifiably so. By most definitions of the word, we lose the ability to be successful. One of my greatest sources of pride was accomplishments in my professional career. It was a big part of my identity, as were things like my home, ...

I’ve seen a lot of stuff on TV about Operation Rio Grande. Apparently there is some controversy on the subject. Well, I’ve been homeless and have some thoughts on the matter. Even though I never stayed in that particular area I have a pretty good idea of what was going on there. When I was ...

The other day an officer stopped me to say he appreciated my honesty. Previously, we had a conversation about what events led to my incarceration. He explained he likes to play a little game. He will ask prisoners about their charges, listen to their story, and then look up their pre-sentence ...