Prison Journalism Project

Q&A: Kwaneta Harris on the Black History That Shaped Her "I am perceived as a Black woman before I am perceived as an American, before I am perceived as a journalist, before I am perceived as human."

"A guard said 'Happy James Earl Ray Day" on Dr. [Martin Luther] King’s holiday. Another asked whether Black people even celebrate Father’s Day — because 'they don’t know their fathers.' I was raised in Detroit, baptized in Black history. Entering a Texas prison was a cultural collision."

Image with a black background with the word "subscribe."

Hi Bluesky, we’re hard at work on an illustrated newsletter that brings our contributors’ lived experience journalism to life through art. Join the list to get the first issue in your inbox when it debuts.

Link here ➡️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Cancer in Confinement PJP writers on suffering from the leading killers in behind bars — a problem of neglect, delayed care, and poor coordination

My now-deceased friend Richard was diagnosed with cancer in 2018. However, he wasn’t told about the diagnosis until nearly a year and a half later. He had been told that nothing was wrong with him, and that he should purchase the generic Pepto-Bismol or Mylanta-type products from the commissary.

How Jobs Work In Pennsylvania Prisons Kitchen, laundry, maintenance, peer support and more.

PJP contributor Jeffery shares the resume he’s built up while doing time.

An Agonizing Road to a Cancer Diagnosis In Prison He fought for years to have his extreme discomfort taken seriously. After invasive procedures and callous care, was it too late?

"After nearly four hours in surgery, I burrowed my way back to consciousness, only to find one of my arms and a leg shackled to the hospital bed," writes Broadway.

This Is the Most Demeaning Act I Experience in Prison A cavity search in prison has become a routine procedure after outside visits. Some guys resist them, but I've become desensitized.

I have experienced cavity searches for 15 years. They are cruel, invasive, and dehumanizing.

Donate | Prison Journalism Project Prison Journalism Project is supported by people like you. Support Prison Journalism Project today.

We are an independent national nonprofit initiative that trains incarcerated writers in the tools of journalism and publishes their stories. If you'd like to support or work, click below ⤵️

When Kittens Came to My Prison, I Had Not Petted One in 15 Years I had not touched a cat in 15 years when an orange kitten wandered over to sit with me in the grass.

I had not touched a cat in 15 years when an orange cat wandered over to sit with me in the grass.

Support independent journalism by incarcerated writers.

Memories From the Prison Cell, After Three Decades Inside Life in a cell — where you both sleep, eat and use the bathroom — can be hard. But there are also moments of tenderness.

Memories From the Prison Cell, After Three Decades Inside

Morning Routines and Other Strategies for Finding Peace in Prison Maintaining your composure in prison is one thing, but finding peace is something else. I interviewed men at my prison about their approaches.

Morning Routines in Prison? That’s One Way to Find Peace in Prison

PJP Writers on the Black History That Inspires Them PJP contributors share movies, music and books from Black history that have helped shape their writing.

For Black History Month, Black contributors share the movies, music and books that have shaped their writing.

This is a great diagram. I know Bluesky folks understand this but so many don’t know why we need to support local journalism.

"The ignorance wasn’t accidental. It was manufactured, systemic, deliberate. I realized someone had to document these moments, these casual cruelties disguised as curiosity. Writing became my resistance. Every incident that should have broken me instead became evidence," writes Kwaneta.

Q&A: Kwaneta Harris on the Black History That Shaped Her "I am perceived as a Black woman before I am perceived as an American, before I am perceived as a journalist, before I am perceived as human."

"A guard said 'Happy James Earl Ray Day" on Dr. [Martin Luther] King’s holiday. Another asked whether Black people even celebrate Father’s Day — because 'they don’t know their fathers.' I was raised in Detroit, baptized in Black history. Entering a Texas prison was a cultural collision."

Join @calmatters.org's for The Evolution of Crime and Punishment in California: What’s Next?, a conversation about the future of criminal justice in the Golden State. Joe Gracia, a former PJP correspondent, is one of the panelists.

🗓 Feb 25, 2026 | 11:30am–1:30pm
📍 Virtual & In-person

Details ⤵️

“I was raised in Detroit, baptized in Black history. Entering a Texas prison was a cultural collision. The ignorance wasn’t accidental. It was manufactured, systemic, deliberate... Writing became my resistance.“ @kwanetaharris.bsky.social

How Prison Prepared Us to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse Two people in prison explain how the years they have spent behind bars have taught them to handle anything, even the undead.

How Prison Prepared Us to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse

Truthout is grateful to open submissions for the sixth annual Keeley Schenwar Memorial Essay Prize. The prize is awarded for essays authored by currently incarcerated and formerly incarcerated writers. bit.ly/KeeleyPrize

Memories From the Prison Cell, After Three Decades Inside Life in a cell — where you both sleep, eat and use the bathroom — can be hard. But there are also moments of tenderness.

What It’s Like to Share a Prison Cell

Donate | Prison Journalism Project Prison Journalism Project is supported by people like you. Support Prison Journalism Project today.

We are an independent national nonprofit initiative that trains incarcerated writers in the tools of journalism and publishes their stories. If you'd like to support or work, click below ⤵️

Q&A: Kwaneta Harris on the Black History That Shaped Her "I am perceived as a Black woman before I am perceived as an American, before I am perceived as a journalist, before I am perceived as human."

The 2025 “Prison Journalist of the Year” says Black history is the foundation her work is built upon.

When Luigi Mangione Came to Our Prison Luigi Mangione was incarcerated at my Pennsylvania prison, SCI Huntingdon, for close to two weeks in December. Here's what we saw.

An incarcerated writer reports on Luigi Mangione's brief stay at a PA prison.

‘This Place Is Love’: A Prison Unit for the Dying — in Pictures In this prison hospice unit in California, incarcerated people tend to their dying peers so no one dies alone.

California Medical Facility’s hospice program aims to ensure no one dies alone.

Tennessee could lock up foster youth in jail-like facilities under new bill Research shows it's best practice to house foster kids with families, but a bill would allow foster kids to be placed in the most secure juvenile facilities.

Foster care children in Tennessee could be placed in the most secure facilities — with barbed wire and cells that lock — under a newly proposed bill that is alarming advocates. My latest:

PJP Writers on the Black History That Inspires Them PJP contributors share movies, music and books from Black history that have helped shape their writing.

For Black History Month, Black contributors share the movies, music and books that have shaped their writing.

7 Stories on Voting Behind Bars and Beyond More than 5 million U.S. citizens can't vote because of felony convictions. The U.S. has some of the harshest voting laws tied to prison.

In stories and poems, PJP writers have expressed their thoughts on our democracy and their ability to participate in it. We have collected a series of stories about this sacred democratic right, and what it means to people behind bars.

I think you might enjoy this read.

ICE Arrests Have Made My Dad Scared to Visit Me in Prison My dad is fourth-generation American. But he looks Hispanic, and that’s enough to get harassed or detained in the United States.

My dad is a U.S. citizen. His family immigrated to the States generations ago. But because he looks Latino, he’s worried he’ll be harassed or detained if he makes the six-hour trip to visit me.

5 Tips to Declutter Your Prison Cell and Improve Your Life Chaotic environments can deplete energy, strain physical health and heighten stress levels. The same is true in a cluttered prison cell.

Just like in the free world, we must establish a system of tidying up that works for us and our cellmates, writes Da'Shae. In that spirit, Da'Shae offers 5 tips to declutter your prison cell and improve your life.