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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.

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When the MDOC yells "CHOW!"
May 17, 2023

When the MDOC yells "CHOW!"
Copeman, Jack S.Michigan
X on my window
2023

X on my window
Johnson, JohnMichigan
Enigma
2023

Enigma
Johnson, JohnMichigan
I am not fragile like a flower
2023

I am not fragile like a flower
Johnson, JohnMichigan
MDOC salad
circa 2023

MDOC salad
Copeman, Jack S.Michigan
Notes from the esophagus
circa 2023

Notes from the esophagus

 J. Copeman Notes From The Esophagus The Big tubuncular circulation fan sits alone; spinning, churning, pushing gray dust motes and jalapeño flavored hairballs on down the same colored MDOC halls in summer. This dull passage...
Copeman, Jack S.Michigan
The prison ideal in America
October 4, 2022

The prison ideal in America
Boyer, DwayneMichigan
The courts as a business and the slaves "inmates"
September 28, 2022

The courts as a business and the slaves "inmates"
Boyer, DwayneMichigan
Terror of the wand
September 14, 2022

Terror of the wand

 Terror of the Wand Ten years ago, the Michigan Department of Corrections implemented a high-tech system for doing prisoner count: Each officer is issued a heavy, metal wand to use to press against a metal...
Carter, Larry R.Michigan
What are we really correcting?
September 1, 2022

What are we really correcting?
Hoosier ImmigrantMichigan
Abuse in the mist of the pandemic, placing prisoners freedom at risk
August 2, 2022

Abuse in the mist of the pandemic, placing prisoners freedom at risk
Payton, Charles E. Atiba BomoniMichigan
The AEDPA - an abomination created by the 1990's crime bill
June 23, 2022

The AEDPA - an abomination created by the 1990's crime bill

 The AEDPA- An Abomination created by the 1990's Crime Bill During this past presidential election, we heard much about the notorious "Crime Bill." But as usual, we got more rhetoric than substance. The Crime Bill...
Pirkel, DanielMichigan
Incarceration - what do you really know about it?
June 23, 2022

Incarceration - what do you really know about it?

 Incarceration- What Do You Really Know About It? Three hots and a cot, free health care, free cable, fully equipped weight rooms, and free education. Yep, life behind bars sounds like good living. That is,...
Pirkel, DanielMichigan
The unintended consequences of retributive justice
June 23, 2022

The unintended consequences of retributive justice

 The Unintended Consequences of Retributive Justice On September 14, 2021, my brother Josh Pirkel killed himself at about 5:15 in the morning. Only 31 years old, Josh had spent his life looking for positive social...
Pirkel, DanielMichigan
Inside the mind of a "hardened" criminal
June 23, 2022

Inside the mind of a "hardened" criminal

 Inside the Mind of a "Hardened" Criminal Born in Valparaiso, Indiana and raised in a broken home, I spent my formative years on the move. With my Dad living in Indiana and my Mom moving...
Pirkel, DanielMichigan
Improving food service in the MDOC
June 23, 2022

Improving food service in the MDOC

 Improving Food Service in the MDOC Despite four years of positive media attention to prison reform, little has changed at the state or federal level. Pie in the sky liberals want to eliminate bail bonds,...
Pirkel, DanielMichigan
How to crawl out of your grave without getting dirt in your mouth
May 2022

How to crawl out of your grave without getting dirt in your mouth

 Jack S. Copeman May 2022 SRF HOW TO CRAWL OUT OF YOUR GRAVE WITHOUT GETTING DIRT IN YOUR MOUTH First, set your face to stone as you sit silently captured above the fold, soaking the...
Copeman, Jack S.Michigan
Descriptions of sources of "stress" while incarcerated
February 18, 2022

Descriptions of sources of "stress" while incarcerated
Baruti, Ahjamu KhalifahMichigan
Run nigga run!
2022

Run nigga run!
Daniels, SeanMichigan
Prison
2022

Prison
Burger, RodneyMichigan
Floating in a bowl with paper - my time behind bars within the MDOC part II
May 22, 2021

Floating in a bowl with paper - my time behind bars within the MDOC part II
Copeman, Jack S.Michigan
Floating in a bowl with paper - my time behind bars within the MDOC
May 6, 2021

Floating in a bowl with paper - my time behind bars within the MDOC
Copeman, Jack S.Michigan
Prisoner EIP
April 18, 2021

Prisoner EIP
Milbourn, Matthew A.Michigan
Drunks
January 16, 2021

Drunks
Milbourn, Matthew A.Michigan
The $ystem
2021

The $ystem
Nichols, AdrianMichigan
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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.

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