Skip to content
  • Home
  • The Archive
    • Search the Archive
    • How to Submit
      • How to Submit
      • Permissions-Questionnaire
  • About
    • About the Archive
    • The Team
    • Archival Silences
    • Projects Inspired by the Archive
  • Curated Collections
  • FAQs & Terminology
  • Saved Selections

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.

Help using the APWA search.

Wildcard Operators

The * operator replaces zero or more characters, so searching for w*ess would match “wilderness”, “witness”, “WordPress” and also “wess”.

The ? operator matches exactly one character, so searching for gr?y would match “grey” or “gray”, but not “gravy” or “groovy”.

Boolean Searches

Relevanssi uses + and – for the operators: cats -dogs and cats +kittens.

If you prefer instead to use the verbal AND and NOT operators, those can be used too.

Phrase Searches

Put phrase in quotation marks, e.g., “just as complicit”.

Help using the APWA search.

  • Loading...
  • Loading...
  • Loading...
  • Loading...
  • Loading...
  • Loading...
  • Loading...
  • Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Dreams of being free
July 9, 2019

Dreams of being free

"Dreams of Being Free" by Richard Atkins Jr. July 9, 2019 We lose our souls to greed, pride, hate, envy and sorrow. But you can't judge me on my mistakes. I was taught, do whatever...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Afraid to love myself
July 9, 2019

Afraid to love myself

“Afraid To Love Myself” By Richard Atkins Jr. July 9, 2019 An unexamined life is not worth living. I had to speak that truth, that fact, first and foremost. The strong is dying to live...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Trapped black soul
July 4, 2019

Trapped black soul

"Trapped Black Soul" By Richard Atkins, Jr July 4, 2019 Dear World, my name is Richard Atkins, Jr. and I have a strong story to tell you. I hope that what I’m about to say,...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Tell her, I love her: My soulmate
July 4, 2019

Tell her, I love her: My soulmate

Tell Her, I Love Her: My Soulmate... by Richard Atkins Jr. July 4, 2019 I'd like to thank God for bringing Angela R. into my life. Her calmness kept me focused on being the best...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
A woman's worth
May 12, 2019

A woman's worth

"A Woman's Worth" by Richard Atkins Jr. High Desert State Prison May 12, 2019 A woman's worth. The worth of the world and for all mankind. 'cause without a woman having us men backs we...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Trump ain't feeling us?
May 9, 2019

Trump ain't feeling us?

"Trump Ain't Feeling Us?" by Richard Atkins, Jr. May 9, 2019 High Desert State Prison The President of the United States of America ain't feeling us blacks. Well, I'm good with that. The feeling is...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Where does the R. Kelly's of the world belong?
May 9, 2019

Where does the R. Kelly's of the world belong?

"Where Does the R. Kelly's of the World Belong?" by R.... A..... Jr. May 9, 2019 High Desert State Prison Robert Kelly AKA (R) Kelly. To me, he's the king of R and B and...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
The purpose of my words
December 10, 2018

The purpose of my words

By: Richard Atkins, Jr. ~Essay~ Oct. 26, 2018 "The Purpose Of My Words" The purpose of my words, are spoken like prophecy, and purpose. I don't see the logic on wasting your words on nothing....
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Cursed by the gods
December 10, 2018

Cursed by the gods

"Cursed by the Gods" By Richard Atkins, Jr. I gave so much of me, to the streets, that I have nothing to lose, except my life now. I have a black heart, when dealing with...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
What is religion?
October 24, 2018

What is religion?

What is religion? Religion is a belief; and some beliefs come with consequences. 'Cause there's critics that will react with violence. Why you think all these wars going on, are going on. It's all leading...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Deeply rooted
October 22, 2018

Deeply rooted

By: Richard Atkins, Jr. Essay Oct. 22, 18 "Deeply Rooted" Who's to blame for my struggles as a youth? Why was I only loved by my family? What's wrong with the world? Let me tell...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
That's perfect
October 21, 2018

That's perfect

By: Richard Atkins, Jr. #----- ~Essay~ 10-21-18 "That's Perfect" I believe in a God, so I don't burn bridges. So for all of my enemies, I apologize for not being the bigger man and not...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Crimes against kids
October 16, 2018

Crimes against kids

"Crimes Against Kids" Richard Atkins Jr. I believe that, any sexual offense against children/or kids should be an automatic life sentence! When a child is molested, their brain isn't able to comprehend and the ones...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Prison reform is...
October 16, 2018

Prison reform is...

By: Richard Atkins, Jr. -essay- "Prison Reform Is..." Prison reform is; having an entrepreneur mind state. 'cause most prisoners are not trying to better themselves. They're walking around the yard looking for a hit to...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Thoughts of real men behind these walls
October 16, 2018

Thoughts of real men behind these walls

"Thoughts of Real Men Behind These Walls" By Richard Atkins, Jr. Coming from poverty, to owning property is the best form of success. And my thoughts behind these walls are of productivity. I used to...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Rats are cowards
October 10, 2018

Rats are cowards

By: Richard Atkins, Jr. ~Essay~ Oct. 10, 2018 "Rat Are Cowards" I was raised by my mother to cherish all good friends, and you should never betray your friends. Is what she taught me and...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Soul at war
October 4, 2018

Soul at war

By: Richard Atkins Jr. Oct. 4, 2018 "Soul At War" A good hearted child born was God's gift. And I belonged to a beautiful Black, Cuban and Native American woman, and a Black and &...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Don't awake the devil
October 4, 2018

Don't awake the devil

Richard Atkins, Jr. Oct. 4, 2018 "Don't Awake the Devil" The Holy Qu'ran teaches us that your tongue can be your worse enemy. Doesn't matter if you're speaking truth or fiction. There's always words being...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Thank prison
October 4, 2018

Thank prison

By: Richard Atkins, Jr. ----- ~Essay~ Oct. 4, 2018 "Thank Prison" The California State Penitentiaries gave me a talent I never knew I possessed. But around May of 2009, I sat in my prison cell,...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Avoid stress at all cost
September 21, 2018

Avoid stress at all cost

By: Richard Atkins, Jr. 9-21-18 California -Essay- “Avoid Stress At All Cost” First and foremost, you occupy most of your time with what you love. That can be family, kids, your girlfriend/or wife, a certain...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
How to turn prison time into an asset
September 10, 2018

How to turn prison time into an asset

By Richard Atkins, Jr. September 10, 2018 Essay "How To Turn Prison Time Into An Asset" I entered incarceration December 3, 2007. I trusted a friend and he left me to burn... After I emptied...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Failure can breed success
September 10, 2018

Failure can breed success

By Richard Atkins, Jr. September 10, 2018 Essay Failure Can Breed Success Time will give me strength from the pain I have suffered. Becoming rich and a player by the rules. Which mean I will...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
A black man trapped
September 6, 2018

A black man trapped

"A Black Man Trapped" The life some of us live, is the cause for our paranoia, pain and stress. Our parents think that we're insane and that we're not capable of learning life. life is...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Stop hurting our women
September 2018

Stop hurting our women

By: Richard Atkins, Jr. #632466 September 2018 Susanville, California -Essay- "Stop Hurting Our Women" Men hurt women due to the lack of love in their childhood. But that's not always the case, 'cause I had...
Atkins, Richard, Jr.California
Back to top
Open filters
Close
Loading...
Johns Hopkins logo
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Takedown and Changes Policy

© 2023 Johns Hopkins University. All Rights Reserved.

Page load link

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.

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.

Thank you for your message. It has been sent.
There was an error trying to send your message. Please try again later.
Go to Top