On this episode of “40 Minutes With 40”, founder “Free,” and an anonymous guest known as “Black” discuss addiction from inside the Virginia DOC. From the fentanyl crisis during COVID to the “Paper” taking hold, today, Free and Black talk about the impact of drug use, the draw, and alternatives we can implement to better support addiction recovery among the DOC population.
Maurice Was Here
Maurice was one of Adopt an Inmate’s earliest adoptees. Four years after his death in federal custody, an old letter reminded us of the joy he felt when someone finally chose to write—and why every person deserves to be remembered by name.
I am from …
Joshua reflects on the people, places, traditions, contradictions, and painful memories that shaped his life in this moving “I Am From” poem.
Inmate Ingenuity: Trash Bag Edition
Trash bags are the Swiss Army knife of prison life. From tablet mounts to laundry lines to makeshift ovens, one sheet of plastic can become almost anything. In this first installment of #InmateIngenuity, Ray Corona shares the everyday creativity that helps people behind bars survive a world built with almost none of the tools the rest of us take for granted.
I Used To Live #Just Like You
Token gestures make us feel righteous, but they don’t hold us accountable to change. What would happen if you reached down to someone in the pit—not as charity, but as a neighbor? You might discover a new and empowered version of yourself.
She’s Gone
As soon as count cleared, I logged in to check my messages. "She's gone... " There it was, the message I was expecting and...
Kurtis & Joe Part 4: Leaving Joe Behind
Kurtis & Joe Part 4: Kurtis & Joe face heartbreak as a promised transfer falls apart. Kurtis is moved alone, leaving Joe behind.
The Good, The Bad, and The CHANGE from Reynold in PA
Thirteen years into his sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Troy reflects on the good, the bad, and the urgent need for change — from building others up as a life coach to confronting the daily harm of an unforgiving system.
The Good, The Bad, and The CHANGE from Troy in Texas
Thirteen years into his sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Troy reflects on the good, the bad, and the urgent need for change — from building others up as a life coach to confronting the daily harm of an unforgiving system.
What Still Matters
We first shared this letter from Rick in 2017, titled What Really Matters, when he was still inside. The good news: he came home...
