When I came to prison, it was commonplace for people to meet up at someone's house for a get-together to watch the Super Bowl or simply hang out and converse. When it was someone's birthday and they lived quite a distance away, it was standard practice to call and...
Being incarcerated for any length of time can be a brutal, psychologically taxing experience. As of this writing, I am 40-years-old, and I have been incarcerated for 19 years, roughly 48% of my life. And while that may be eye-popping, it is important to remember that...
Texas prisons are not cool 'Cause most of our feelings, they are dead and they are gone We're setting fire to our insides for fun - Daughter - Youth Texas prisons are not cool in the summertime. The first year I spent in a Texas prison was in 2015 and I began my stay...
This past week came with one of the biggest shocks of my fifteen years of incarceration. My unit ('incentive housing' with extra privileges for those of us who have exhibited at least 18 months of clear conduct) was inspected by the administration. We had been duly...
What is the most effective approach to dealing with crime and punishment? Should the criminal justice system primarily be used to punish those who violate the law by sending them to prison for lengthy terms? Or should it rather serve as a mechanism for rehabilitation?...
For a peek inside the Restorative Justice process, see CNN's original series The Redemption Project with Van Jones. For the first twelve years of my incarceration I was convinced I had done everything I could to atone for my crime â then I was proven wrong. Although...
Dear Twin Brother, I love you. I know you know that, but I feel it's important to explicitly reaffirm it from time to time. Where do I begin? I don't quite know, but there is so much in me that I want to express to you, so you'll know exactly what's in my heart....
If you are the type of person who doesnât dwell on dreary details, you rarely consider prison unless it is to wish that an infamous cretin be sent there. Until I came to prison, I hardly thought anything of it. Bad people are stored in prisons until they achieve the...
We are pleased to share this Opinion Piece in The Oregonian by guest columnist and frequent AI blogger Martin Lockett. I had been drinking all day on New Yearâs Eve of 2003 and then, had gone to a party to celebrate more. Later, as I drove my twin brother home, he...
Christmas is a festive time of year, when family members get together to enjoy robust meals, open presents, and share good ole' rare quality time. During the holidays, people tend to let bygones be bygones, differences become trivial, and allow their love for one...