Unsealed: In Spite of Prison Walls
In e-messages sent from a Michigan prison, writer Leo Carmona describes the value of finding and losing community between facility transfers. More
Jennifer Baker on Restorative Justice in Young Adult Fiction
Jennifer Baker, author of "Forgive Me Not," speaks with PEN America's "Works of Justice" podcast about how she wrote restorative justice into her young adult novel. More
Unsealed: On That Old Rock Pile Prison Quilt Project
In this essay, Jeff Elmore explains his process of making paper collage quilts in prison, which he sends to anyone interested in receiving them. More
Introducing The Freewrite Project Zine
PEN America’s Prison and Justice Writing Program presents a zine featuring work from creative writing workshop participants in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The workshops were framed around curriculum developed… More
On Prison Art and Music
PEN America Prison and Justice Writing Program Manager Robbie Pollock highlights three projects centered on making music from prison: Heartbeat Opera, Die Jim Crow Records, and a recent book… More
A Conversation with Brooklyn Public Library’s Justice Initiatives Program
PEN America Prison and Justice Writing Fellow Valentina Flores speaks with Brooklyn Public Library's Diego Sandoval-Hernandez on the work and offerings of library's Justice Initiatives Program. More
Damascus James on Witnessing, Letter Writing, and Solitary Confinement
Damascus James, editor of "TEXAS LETTERS," speaks with PEN America's "Works of Justice" podcast about what he learned from people who are in solitary confinement in Texas prisons. More
Unsealed: An Open Letter from No More Victims Road
In this open letter, Antwann Lamont Johnson, Sr. considers if the Department of Corrections actually contributes to harm reduction. More
Tommy Trantino on Perseverance and Protest
Jess Abolafia introduces Tommy Trantino, author of "Lock the Lock" (1974), who speaks with the Works of Justice podcast about his experience writing and making art on death row. More
Unsealed: Lost Lifelines, and the Harmful Effects of Prison Mail Scanning
Jess Abolafia discusses the challenges of digitizing mail to and from prison, and why it does more harm than good. More
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