Category Archives: Prison Conditions

Torture, or Mental Health Treatment? Leaked Video Shows American Prison Conditions

Posted on March 27, 2013 by

“Help, I can’t breathe,” a prisoner calls out through a fabric mask that was placed over his nose and mouth after pepper spray was shot into his face from inches away. “You’re Talking, You’re Breathing,” says Captain Welch, in a calm monotone. … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental Health, Prison Conditions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Unprison 2011-2013 Index

Posted on February 5, 2013 by

Below you will find an index of the articles written over the past several years for Unprison.  Readers are encouraged, as issues arise in your area, to utilize the research, analysis, and opinions presented below.  Some of these have appeared elsewhere, … Continue reading →

Posted in Actions, Commentary, Courts, Death Penalty, Drug Policy, Education, Employment, Housing, Innocence, Legislation, Mental Health, Police, Political Prisoners, Politics, Prison Conditions, prison economics, Prisoner Health, Race, Rehabilitation, SCOTUS, Uncategorized, Voting Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

New Scholarship Program to Reverse School-to-Prison Pipeline

Posted on January 29, 2013 by

Originally appearing on TTEF’s blog. “As founders of a new and unique endeavor, we welcome you to the Transcending Through Education Foundation (TTEF). We have come together to create TTEF to help reverse the school-to-prison pipeline and establish the prison-to-school pipeline, We will provide … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Prison Conditions, Rehabilitation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Jean Valjean is a Friend of Mine

Posted on December 28, 2012 by

Most reviews of Les Miserables discuss the singing, editing, and acting, disregarding the original text of Victor Hugo.  I write the simple reflections of a former prisoner who read this ex-con tale while sitting in a cell, with only a feint hope … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Politics, Prison Conditions, Race, Rehabilitation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hunger Strikes, Solitary Confinement, and the United Nations Day In Support of Victims

Posted on June 26, 2012 by

Today marks the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.  It also marks the 12th day of a hunger strike in Georgia prisons to protest the beatings, retaliation, and torture that came as a reaction to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Actions, Commentary, Prison Conditions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dead Under the “Custody and Care” of…

Posted on February 25, 2012 by

There are many ways to die in the “custody and care” of the criminal justice system.  We see it seemingly every day in America.  Whether it is an NYPD shooting or an Orleans Parish Prison (OPP) shanking, clearly the government … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Prison Conditions, Prisoner Health | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

National Occupy Day in Support of Prisoners: Feb. 20th

Posted on January 11, 2012 by

A proposal passed yesterday by the General Assembly of Occupy Oakland is to generate a national day of action that will call attention to prisons across America.  While presidential candidates take to their stumps, one might be unaware that America … Continue reading →

Posted in Actions, Political Prisoners, Prison Conditions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Out of L.A.- FICPM Will Register 1 Million Voters Opposed to Mass Incarceration

Posted on November 10, 2011 by

When a young woman from Arizona asked how she could get her voting rights restored, she heard a blunt reply:  “We don’t need you to get your rights restored.  We need you to get together with other folks and work … Continue reading →

Posted in Actions, Drug Policy, Prison Conditions, prison economics, Voting Rights | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Troy, Hunger Strikes, and Law School: The Movement for Self Empowerment

Posted on September 28, 2011 by

These are busy times in the era of mass incarceration.  The execution of Troy Davis sparked the largest public opposition to the death penalty in American history.  Vigils and protests arose throughout the nation, horrified that someone can be put … Continue reading →

Posted in Innocence, Prison Conditions, Rehabilitation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

From Narragansett Bay to Pelican Bay, People Stand in Solidarity for Human Rights

Posted on July 19, 2011 by

On July 1st, 2011, prisoners in the Security Housing Unit (SHU) in Pelican Bay State Prison, CA went on indefinite hunger strike to protest conditions that have been characterized by the UN as “inhumane and degrading.”  Over nearly three weeks … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Political Prisoners, Prison Conditions, Rehabilitation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments