The Archive - American Prison Writing Archive

If you are working on an APWA-related project, please let us know how you plan to utilize the Archive. We hope to share information about your work with our readers and, whenever possible, with relevant APWA authors.

The APWA is an open access archive. We encourage use of the writings for research, course planning, and projects engaged in examination of the criminal legal system. Reproduction of essays in their entirety infringes on author copyright without their explicit consent from the writers. Please contact us if you plan to reproduce entire essays; we will do our best to put you in contact with the authors for consent, and their compensation for any project that is profit making.

*At this point in the Archive’s growth, it’s important to revisit actions taken to protect privacy when the APWA had fewer resources. For this reason, we are temporarily pulling all essays and poetry under pseudonyms and anonymity to quality check and ensure all identity protecting redactions have been thoroughly applied. The privacy of the writers in the APWA is a top priority, and so is displaying their writing as they wish it to be displayed. We will restore all pieces as soon as we can confirm the highest quality privacy protections.

April 2024

Quantum entanglement

QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT All the atoms of the universe they say are linked together, as thoughts and dreams among us all are to each of us a tether. Where atoms knock and bang around and: signal...

Wyman, Alan Illinois

January 2024

When the man's at the door and the world looks away

Wyman, Alan Illinois

circa 2024

Under Lady Liberty's darkened torch

UNDER LADY LIBERTY'S DARKENED TORCH America, America, how far you've strayed from truth and justice as a consequence Of court rules without a tooth. Now judges rule as kings with a black heart in every...

Wyman, Alan Illinois