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Daniel Pirkel

Born and raised in NW Indiana, I spent much of my childhood in football, motorcycles and video games. Since my incarceration 15 years ago, I have won a favorable legal decision on appeal and I earned a bachelor’s degree through Calvin University (2021) in Faith & Community Leadership in Social Work.

2022 PEN America Prison Writing Contest – Honorable Mention in Nonfiction Essay for “The Unintended Consequences of Retributive Justice“

2019 PEN America Prison Writing Contest – Honorable Mention in Nonfiction Essay for “Parole Reform“

Articles by Daniel Pirkel

Prison and Justice Writing

Friday June 30

Against Retribution: An Interview with Daniel Pirkel

In this interview, Daniel Pirkel speaks with PEN America’s Prison and Justice Writing Program about unnecessary policies that censor the work of incarcerated writers, and advocates for restorative justice models that would better serve communities.

Prison and Justice Writing

Wednesday September 7

The Unintended Consequences of Retributive Justice

Daniel Pirkel was awarded an Honorable Mention in Nonfiction Essay in the 2022 Prison Writing Contest. Every year, hundreds of imprisoned people from around the country submit poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and dramatic works to PEN America’s Prison Writing Contest, one of the few outlets of free expression for the country’s incarcerated population. On September 14,

Prison and Justice Writing

Monday September 9

Parole Reform

“Prisoners must have a mode in which they can challenge the state’s actions in parole decisions. Any system that cannot be held accountable is an unjust system.”