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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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Worthy tears
2023

Worthy tears

Worthy Tears I have not given up. As time goes by It seems others haven’t too. Letter by letter Book by book Sending money to my account, I shed a tear. I thought I was...
Yearling, De'jon ArmaniKansas
The yard
2023

The yard

The Yard This is where I belong. The metal is loud and the people are even louder. People sing, rap, and grunt. This is an exercise circus. I see leg workouts, chest workouts, arm workouts,...
Yearling, De'jon ArmaniKansas
Mixed emotions
December 20, 2022

Mixed emotions

De’jon Yearling 12/20/2022 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Mixed Emotions I was an army soldier, not because I wanted to be or because it was so cool, but because I wanted freedom and from my momma house...
Yearling, De'jon ArmaniKansas
Christina cries
August 20, 2021

Christina cries

Freemen, JustusKansas
B4 I let go
August 19, 2021

B4 I let go

"B4 I let go..." 8/19/21 * I'd rather live like a man than die like a coward. Therefore I must adjust my thought process and aggressive behaviors! * The clock is still ticking...As my days...
Freemen, JustusKansas
Atrocities in the El Dorado Correctional Facility
June 24, 2020

Atrocities in the El Dorado Correctional Facility

Atrocities in the El Dorado Correctional Facility By: Michael Shaver In the light of the tragic death of George Floyd, some things have opened my eyes. The way those officers restrained him is a less...
Shaver, MichaelKansas
I wake up between 2 and 3 A.M.
May 9, 2020

I wake up between 2 and 3 A.M.

1 I wake up between 2 and 3 A.M. I wash my face, brush my teeth and comb my hair. As I wait for drinks (hot chickory and watered down juice) I usually write or...
Ward, Randall S.Kansas
Creative essay
August 9, 2019

Creative essay

Creative Essay The buzz and crash of the gates echo in this great hollow compartment. The endless sea of concrete all seamlessly touching even when separated by corrugated steel stairs leading only to the second...
Wood, ChuckKansas
Reflections
November 15, 2018

Reflections

Reflections 11-15-18 I'm in the "hole" right now, I hit a guy in the head with a fab motor for stealing my mp3 player. Segregation is a loud dirty place. People lose themselves down here...
Kiser, Paul J.Kansas
The long-term prison: Warehousing the elderly
July 17, 2018

The long-term prison: Warehousing the elderly

The Long-term Prisoner - Warehousing the Elderly By Robert (Bob) Clark Let me introduce myself, my name is Bob Clark. I'm serving a very lengthy sentence, 121-222 yrs for a series of violent assaults in...
Clark, RobertKansas
Example?
July 5, 2018

Example?

Example? 7-5-18 I find it difficult to believe that a 18-19 year old kid two weeks of training can somehow by example rehabilitate me. Make no mistake, that is, according to the law, their job....
Kiser, Paul J.Kansas
Experiences of solitary confinement
June 4, 2018

Experiences of solitary confinement

-1- 6.4.18 The American Prison Writing Archive The Marshall Project Experience of Solitary Confinement My name is Bob Clark, I'm currently incarcerated in the Kansas Prison System. I am serving a sentence of 122-222 yrs....
Clark, RobertKansas
Ms. Ogyny
April 8, 2018

Ms. Ogyny

"Ms. Ogyny" by Zab Real As a society, we seem not to be aware of, or to never even stop to seriously think of how dangerous and destructive the Rule of Law is designed to...
Zab RealKansas
Inside looking in
April 8, 2018

Inside looking in

Inside Looking In 4-2-18 The American model of incarceration is broke and broken. Dept. of Corrections throughout the land are the only businesses, and they are businesses, that produce a defective product and blame the...
Kiser, Paul J.Kansas
Correcting corrections
March 23, 2018

Correcting corrections

Correcting Corrections by Zab Real Corrections… The Department of Corrections… From the inside of my cell, looking out, I sometimes sit and ponder the question as to what do they seriously call themselves correcting? With...
Zab RealKansas
The 5th victims
March 23, 2018

The 5th victims

The 5th Victims Everybody forgets about them, the loved ones. The ones left behind. The ones on the other side of the aisle. The ones who also ask why. Why did he do it? What...
Kiser, Paul J.Kansas
Military injustice legion
January 14, 2018

Military injustice legion

MILITARY INJUSTICE LEGION "Advocating Rights for America's Military" January 14, 2018 Dear Sir or Madam, I respectfully ask for your attention regarding serious matters that adversely impacts hundreds of military families each year. Corruption plagues...
Brown, Leon, IVKansas
Hell hole
October 17, 2017

Hell hole

Hell Hole The Effects of Long-Term Segregation Most people in society has no ideal of what goes on inside these prison walls, but here is a few reasons why you should... I have been in...
Zab RealKansas
In the year 2005
September 22, 2017

In the year 2005

In the year 2005, I was in the tenth year of a thirty year sentence, mid way through appealing what was, what is and will always be a wrongful conviction, when I experienced one of...
Noyce, David A.Kansas
Corruption plagues the military's injustice system
July 10, 2017

Corruption plagues the military's injustice system

Corruption plagues the Military injustice System. Known as the UCMJ, this one-sided, oppressive, and grossly flawed (in)justice system destroys countless lives and breaks up innocent families who fall victim to the military's dishonest and heartless...
Brown, Leon, IVKansas
Recently I read something in a newspaper
June 21, 2017

Recently I read something in a newspaper

NO TITLE Recently, I read something in a newspaper that said that there were around two and a half million incarcerated in all of the jails and in all of the prisons across the United...
Noyce, David A.Kansas
Truth
May 11, 2017

Truth

"Truth" by: Captain Leon Brown IV 91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota May 11, 2017 Patriots, forgotten heros, veterans; these are the men who are trapped in the unknown, and unspoken prison system which...
Brown, Leon, IVKansas
Change is difficult
February 9, 2017

Change is difficult

Change is difficult Change is difficult. Growth is difficult. Real growth necessitates exploring and challenging my thoughts, feelings, beliefs, values, morals, and behaviors. Likewise, it includes taking a critical stance towards my environment. This is...
McReynolds, BrandonKansas
One major source of stress in prison
October 18, 2016

One major source of stress in prison

1/2 Pint Kansas [NO TITLE] One major source of stress in prison is being placed in solitary confinement. I myself was in for at least a year. Solitary confinement is almost gaurnteeded to make you...
1/2 PintKansas
At present I am in a super max-SHU
October 18, 2016

At present I am in a super max-SHU

Andrew Housworth Kansas NO TITLE At present I am in a super Max-SHU unit under (O.S.R.) Other Security Risk. I have never reseved any discipline for any of the activity I am being held on....
Housworth, AndrewKansas
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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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