From the Texas Center for Justice & Equality: A new report, Reversing the War on Drugs in Texas, authored by Policy Analyst Sarah Reyes and Director of Policy and Advocacy Alycia Castillo, shares research on who’s actually using drugs in Texas, the harmful...
Melissa Schmitt

Martin Lockett – Prison to Purpose Pipeline
Many of you are familiar with Martin Lockett, who has written many blog posts for us over the years. Today, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2022, is the perfect day to let you know that since his release in June of 2021, Martin has republished his book - formerly Palpable...
UPDATE: IRS Publishes Guidance on How to Obtain Stimulus Payments from Prison During 2021 Tax Season
The deadline to file 2020 taxes is May 17th, just over two weeks away. Monitor this page for updates - download blank and sample forms and instructions. See the FAQ and Resources at the top. Use the IRS online Get My Payment tool to check the status of...
Prisons Use Covid to Enhance Punishment
We've heard a few stories about how prisons use Covid as an excuse to enhance punishment of their charges. We received this letter from the mother of a person incarcerated at Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Washington Department of Corrections. We have reported...
Update: Here’s what’s happening
An update from our friend in WSRU in WA DOC - read his post Preparing for Quarantine that he wrote just before being moved. Today he was moved back to general population. I'm doing great physically. I developed a sore throat (which became a slight cough) and rolling...
Urgent Announcement: Prisoners Eligible for Stimulus Checks
Prisoners are eligible for stimulus checks. See bottom of post for link to Facebook livestream event How to Get Stimulus Money for Incarcerated Citizens on Friday, October 9th - an in-depth presentation on how to apply for funds correctly. Many of you have heard news...
Melissa Schmitt – Calling All Angels Against Inhumane Justice
Our friend Jack Erdie produces and hosts a podcast called Plague Talk. The July 26, 2020 episode features Melissa Schmitt, and follows the previous episode which featured her husband Jacob. Melissa talks about how our perverse and tyrannical criminal justice system...
Jacob Schmitt – Empowering the Imprisoned: A Journey of Love
Our friend Jack Erdie produces and hosts a podcast called Plague Talk. The July 18, 2020 episode features Melissa's husband Jacob Schmitt, interviewed from prison in Washington state. Jacob Ivan Schmitt has spent most of his life locked up. Now he works to bring...
Change to Jpay Stamp Services
Announcement from Jpay: Dear JPay Customer, As of today, April 7, 2020, you will only be able to purchase JPay Stamp packages for the state where your incarcerated loved one is located. If you communicate with incarcerated individuals located in multiple states, then...
Jpay Changes in Response to Visiting Suspensions
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and many state DOC's have restricted facility access to all non-essential personnel to reduce the chance of staff or incarcerated individuals contracting the virus. This unfortunately includes in-person visits from family and...