Two years ago, when I first volunteered to help out at U-Prep, there were only a couple of dozen inmate students in the program; now there are over 200 who are eager to learn.Many of the prisoners benefitting from this program are capable men who never had or took advantage of an opportunity to ...

I have been asked several times by other prisoners why I’m still in Gunnison. What they are really asking is why I haven’t applied to go elsewhere and utilize my gate-pass.When prisoners get closer to their release dates, they become eligible for a few additional jobs working outside the ...

The way you are treated in prison takes some getting used to.There is little to no trust extended to prisoners. All of our movement is controlled and under surveillance. Our decisions on many things are made for us.After a few years, I’ve gotten used to this being my reality, so when I’m ...

During my time within the penal system, I have observed a two-party system amongst the faculty and administration.On one side, you have those who believe the goal of the Department of Corrections is to rehabilitate and better the inmate population through education and programs. On the other ...

Parole is a rather scary proposition. I’m told that three out of four parolees don’t complete it successfully.When someone is on parole, they’re still considered to be serving their sentence. At any time, they can be taken back to prison.Because of this, prisoners are constantly asking ...

My parents visited me last week, and it was a bit of an eye-opening experience. This was the third time I have seen them in the three-plus years I’ve been locked up, with all three visits coming in the last six months.I’m just starting to understand the tough road I have in front of me. ...