Prison Journalism Project

Florida rules say I can be paid $25 more per month for running a commissary. But If I press for a pay increase, it could mean retribution. "I run one of our three canteens. Canteens are the prison general stores that sell food and other choice items people may need or want," writes Kimberly. "Our three canteens serve 730 women. At mine, I’m responsible for $10,000 worth of inventory at any given moment." "In total, I make $50 per month," she continues. https://lnkd.in/eW8DfZFu

We often don’t hear about censorship in the other direction: keeping our voices from getting out to the public. https://lnkd.in/gt4Wf-Uy

"For prisoners with an entrepreneurial spirit, one of the most basic hustles in prison is running a store," writes Christopher. "A 'store man' takes commissary items like chips, ramen noodles and pouches of mackerel, then loans them out with interest until the next time commissary is delivered, which is every two weeks in Michigan," he continues. "The normal interest rate is 50%, so a person borrowing a $2 mackerel would be expected to pay back $3 worth of commissary goods within a couple of weeks." Continue reading ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eZfrskF9

Inside the First-Ever Mock Election in a North Carolina Prison https://lnkd.in/e8HnM-r8

All the Sports You Can —and Cannot — Play in Prison. "For some of us in prison, outdoor sports are a reprieve from the monotonous life in a 10-by-12-foot cell," writes Ramelle. "For others, it’s a rejuvenating form of exercise. Spectators view it as entertainment. For most of us, good conduct can earn you increased access to sports." Continue reading ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eSaG-3Ps

I am very happy to share this piece published by the Prison Journalism Project written about me. Yeah, I am usually the one behind the pen or the camera, but today I was the subject. In my work of helping the formerly and currently incarcerated tell their story, one of the facilities that I work with is Famington Correctional Center, a medium security place in Famington, Mo. I first visited this Farmington when I was invited to give a talk at @TEDxFarmingtonCorrectionCenter by the super creative Delia Cohen of Proximity for Justice. After participating in the TEDx, I met the very dope Matt Petty and he invited me to come back and speak with the men. My whole mission is this: Encourage people to tell their story Address Tech Literacy Show people how to tell their stories through technology such as social media and online publications. I believe everyone has a voice and should be able to do it. I am very proud of the work I am doing and love working with folks who are incarcerated or have done time. Thank you to Jeshua for this dope article! P.S. - my Beatles shirt is not tight! I just lift weights LOL. #massincarceration #writing #storytelling #speaking #tedx #leronlbarton #love

When Writer LeRon Barton Came to My Prison. https://lnkd.in/eaQy6ush

What I Lost When I Left the Best Prison in Texas. "I thought I fit in well at Huntsville Unit, the prison just outside of Houston where I had lived for 18 months. Sure, I wasn’t happy, but I was more or less content. If there’s a decent prison in Texas, Huntsville is it. Having served time in 11 other state facilities, I felt lucky to be there," writes Cesar. "So when I heard news that I was going to be transferred, I was devastated. Life as I knew it, where I had expected to be for the remainder of my sentence, was gone. It was another painful reminder that the Texas prison system determines my fate," he continues. Continue reading ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/ehcStbMh

"I get really frustrated at the treatment of the elderly," writes Amy McBride, 61, who is incarcerated in Pennsylvania. "It’s a long walk to the medical clinic and twice as long as that to the dining hall. Tonight it was snowy, and there was a line of wheelchairs almost a block long." https://lnkd.in/eWy2H-tS

I am speaking at 14th National Conference on Higher Education in Prison. Join me along with Lawrence Bartley from The Marshall Project and Shaheen Pasha from Prison Journalism Project on Thursday. We'll be chatting about all things journalism and prisons, from censorship of incarcerated writers to how journalism can prepare people for careers beyond the media.