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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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Education in prisons
August 12, 2022

Education in prisons

The American Prison Writing Archive Hamilton College; 198 College Hill Road Clinton, NY 13323 - 1218 August 12, 2022 RE: Education In Prisons Dear The Editors, How are you! I've been incarcerated since the year...
Vaskanyan, ArtemMassachusetts
Healthcare
June 30, 2022

Healthcare

DePaula, RayMassachusetts
On the contemplative life
March 2, 2021

On the contemplative life

Alleyne, KyleMassachusetts
The keeper of men
February 15, 2021

The keeper of men

Book Titled: RUMINATING YEARS Poem: The Keeper Of Men Author: By Artem Vaskanyan I often wonder! How can a man keep another shackled, hand cuffed And locked away inside a cage to suffer For all...
Vaskanyan, ArtemMassachusetts
Defund MCI-Norfolk's mainline kitchen!
July 13, 2020

Defund MCI-Norfolk's mainline kitchen!

Defund MCI - Norfolk's Mainline Kitchen! By Daniel L. Holland I do not mean to sound insensitive to those in society who have trouble finding and/or affording food, but it is unconscionable what is happening...
Holland, Daniel LeoMassachusetts
On reason and the state: The root causes of anti-social behavior
June 15, 2020

On reason and the state: The root causes of anti-social behavior

Alleyne, KyleMassachusetts
As a convicted felon in the United States of America
May 13, 2020

As a convicted felon in the United States of America

Angel Santos D.C.C.C Prison Commonwealth of Massachuchets As a convicted felon, in the United States of America the very land of exuberance the land of possibitie's expounded, compounded, expanded, as to every American born be...
Santos, AngelMassachusetts
Simon says: Self-regulation in a non-autonomous environment
November 5, 2019

Simon says: Self-regulation in a non-autonomous environment

Simon Says: Self-Regulation in a Non-Autonomous Environment Daniel S. Throop Carl Jung once stated that “Only that which is truly ourselves has the power to heal” (Richo 261). It is through such a Jungian-lens of...
Throop, Daniel S.Massachusetts
The island effect: Social marooning in corrections as extra-judicial punishment
November 5, 2019

The island effect: Social marooning in corrections as extra-judicial punishment

The Island Effect: Social Maroaning in Corrections as Extra- Judicial Punishment Daniel S. Throop Abstract Objectives: To examine the causal factors of social death within punitive structures of correctional isolation, and to assess the negative...
Throop, Daniel S.Massachusetts
Incarcerated tears: Experiencing pain & loss in prison
November 5, 2019

Incarcerated tears: Experiencing pain & loss in prison

Incarcerated Tears: Experiencing Pain & Loss in Prison Daniel S. Throop "Alex died". It was a cold Tuesday morning in the Yard when Scotty broke the news about our mutual friend. The December air suddenly...
Throop, Daniel S.Massachusetts
Definition of restorative justice
January 2, 2019

Definition of restorative justice

Definition of Restorative Justice Restorative justice is a revolutionary attempt at mitigating the proliferation of procedural justice whos misguided objective to convict, isolate, release has failed as evidenced by recidivism rates. Without the positive return...
Time, JustinMassachusetts
The other trans
November 9, 2018

The other trans

The Other Trans _ I'm a yogurt raisin. White on the outside. Black on the inside. If you love blacks, love me! If you hate blacks, hate me! I long for a tattoo: black, full-body...
Rexford, DavidMassachusetts
Dehumanization session 3
October 8, 2018

Dehumanization session 3

" Dehumanization Session 3" 10-8-18 The objective and definition of dehumanization in prison is the breaking of minds through oppressive tactics. Once the mind becomes dehumanized and debased conformity to living a life lower than...
Time, JustinMassachusetts
Why higher education matters in today's world of technology for incarcerated people
September 25, 2018

Why higher education matters in today's world of technology for incarcerated people

Whv Higher Education Matters in Todav’s World of Technology For Incarcerated People Providing access to Higher Education has a ripple effect that extends far beyond the rehabilitation of incarcerated people. Higher Education has a positive...
Ruddock, RobertMassachusetts
Essay on incarcerated grieving
August 31, 2018

Essay on incarcerated grieving

ESSAY ON INCARCERATED GRIEVING BY PAUL HENRY JOSEPH KOSTKA PAGE ONE Prison Guards, Administrators, and convicts all feel the hurt, emotional pain and heart aches with death of loved ones and friends. I would like...
Kostka, Paul Henry JosephMassachusetts
The social fractmentation that exist between minorities, law enforcement and the criminal justice system
August 9, 2018

The social fractmentation that exist between minorities, law enforcement and the criminal justice system

The American Prison Writing Archive (APWA) c/o Hamilton College 198 College Hill Road; Clinton NY 13323-1218 The social fractmentation that exist between minorities, law enforcement and the Criminal Justice System: BY: Luis D. Perez W33937...
Perez, Luis D.Massachusetts
The prison subculture and crime in America
August 9, 2018

The prison subculture and crime in America

The Prison Subculture and Crime in America by Luis D. Perez #[ID], MCI - Shirley Medium 
 The prison subculture involves every sector of American society: Irish, Italian, Afro-American, Asian, Hispanic, etc., and is very...
Perez, Luis D.Massachusetts
The psychological impact of life in a federal prison
May 17, 2018

The psychological impact of life in a federal prison

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF LIFE IN A FEDERAL PRISON The stress of being in prison hits you every waking minute and hour that you are conscious, and may even affect you while you sleep. From...
Valenzuela, Richard R.Massachusetts
The effects of being incarcerated
February 1, 2018

The effects of being incarcerated

The Effects of Being Incarcerated... 
 ...Noone seemed to care who we were on the inside, all that mattered were two (2) numbers: the length of your sentence and your I.D. number. In America's cities,...
Blount, E. W.Massachusetts
In development of a criminal mind
December 15, 2017

In development of a criminal mind

Ignorance as a Social Progress Downfall By Christopher Balmer "'The law must be stable, yet it cannot stand still.' The words are those of Roscoe Pound. They refer to the two ideals that must be...
Knippers, Brian D.Massachusetts
Prison is a terrible place
December 2017

Prison is a terrible place

Prison is a Terrible Place By Sandro Tavares Dec 2017 I don't think society fully grasp what it is life to be imprisoned. Or maybe they do but consensus is that convicted felons only get...
Tavares, SandroMassachusetts
The healing tree
September 10, 2017

The healing tree

Brian D. Knippers Comm. #W-95692 The Healing Tree A man named Stan was a groundskeeper at Massachusetts Correctional Institution Norfolk. One day, he decided to plant a peach tree. He picked a spot in front...
Knippers, Brian D.Massachusetts
Standard racism
September 9, 2017

Standard racism

Brian D. Knippers Comm. #W-95692 Standard Racism In prison, there's a standard for racism. If I were to define it, I'd say eVeryone's racist. You can laugh, or call me a liar, but in my...
Knippers, Brian D.Massachusetts
The wrong approach
September 1, 2017

The wrong approach

Brian D. Knippers Comm. #W-95692 The Wrong Approach I'd like you to consider the state of healthcare in the Massachusetts Department of Corrections. I'd like to think the state of our healthcare services is identical...
Knippers, Brian D.Massachusetts
This is the story of how I both helped and failed a friend
July 18, 2017

This is the story of how I both helped and failed a friend

1 This is the story of how I both helped and failed a friend. All in the space of about sixty seconds, if that. There was this guy I met in county jail while awaiting...
Bellamy, Brian TimothyMassachusetts
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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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