I just received a copy of Texas Letters, which includes a collection of letters written from solitary confinement in Texas. This is an incredibly important tool in any conversation regarding those subjects – prisons in Texas, solitary confinement, or specifically, solitary confinement in Texas.
The United States is an advanced country, and the systems of incarceration have not advanced alongside advances in other areas. Prison, solitary confinement and reform are not clear cut, black and white issues and arguments from those perspectives are not overly productive.
Arguments for solitary confinement include providing protection against violent and dangerous individuals, retribution and punishment, as well as individuals who actually want to be in solitary for their own protection, among other things. Arguments against solitary confinement include various perspectives regarding inhumanity, mental health and torture.
What is clear is that change is needed. WITS is confident there is adequate education, insight and resources within the United States to work together and develop solutions that are humane, productive, and safe, systems that protect those living within prison as well as those working there. Any discussion that entertains maintaining the current state of affairs is a wasted discussion. This book, Texas Letters, is a resource in the quest for solutions regarding an issue that becomes more urgent by the day.
I am working on a new WITS book project. Taking a look at ‘ethics’. It is in the planning stages, but I am looking for essays on the subject.
What are ethics – in YOUR words. NOT a dictionary definition.
Are they important, why are they important? Should we expect ethical behavior from those in authority and why? I am looking for heartfelt responses as opposed to clinical responses, which is a challenge when it comes to this topic. I do not want textbook responses.
Share reflections on ethics as they relate to the population living in prison as well as the staff working with that population. This is not in an effort to hear negative perspectives, I’m hoping for a variety of material, to include both positive and negative. Most specifically what this book is looking at is one particular case of a WITS writer as it went through the system, calling into question ethics every step of the way, and the book hopes to look at ethics overall in relation to that case. These reflections on ethics will be used throughout. There is a fair amount of urgency, as this individual is on death row and out of appeals, and I would like to have the book finished in a reasonable amount of time for obvious reasons.
Also, feel free to share reflections on ethics within the judicial system.
Illustrations can include things you’ve seen or experienced.
This is an evolving project, and not all material sent in will be used in the book. Although some pieces might be posted on WITS’ site if appropriate, even if they don’t fit the material in the book.
Thank you! Send submissions to the below address, and poetry is welcome as well.
Walk In Those Shoes Attn: Ethics P.O. Box 70092 Henrico, Virginia 23255
Outside of the case that you are currently serving time for, what would you say is the most significant factor or factors that resulted in your incarceration?
Part of what WITS aims to do is raise awareness and add relevant voices to conversations regarding mass incarceration, and it has been said that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution. Another aspect of WITS is providing a creative outlet for people in prison through reflection. It is hoped that will lead to individual clarity and growth.
Please note, the above prompt recognizes not everyone is guilty of the crime they are incarcerated for. What we are looking for has nothing to do with the crime, rather factors that influenced the trajectory towards prison, for example, possibly childhood trauma, socioeconomic status, race, etc. It can be something from childhood or the day of arrest.
With that said, this prompt hopes to inspire reflection, a look at the factors in our lives that might have influenced our direction outside of ourselves. I’m really looking forward to seeing what this prompt inspires.
Entry Details:
Only those who are incarcerated are eligible to participate.
We can’t accept anything that has been previously published.
Submission is free – BUT, even if an entry doesn’t win, we consider entry permission to publish and edit. Sometimes we get so many excellent entries, they can’t all win, but they need to be shared.
Entries should be 1,000 words or less. Poetry is considered, as long as it is inspired by the prompt.
Submissions can be handwritten.
As done in our previous contests, I will narrow down the entries to the top ten, and then hand them off to individuals to rate the writing with a point system to determine winners.
PRIZES:
First Place: $75
Second Place: $50
Third Place: $25
DEADLINE: February 28, 2023. Decisions will be posted on or before March 31, 2023.
MAILING ADDRESS:
Walk In Those Shoes
Writing Contest Entry
P.O. Box 70092
Henrico, Virginia 23255
Footnote: Entries that do not follow the prompt are not passed on to the judges.
For all posts from this site as well as current criminal justice issues, you can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
The Arizona Club recently finished The Family Upstairs, and as a group, they give the book 3.6 stars. And, of course – if you haven’t read the book and intend to, don’t read their reviews!
“Easily a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I loved the twists in the plot, definitely a page turner it kept me reading, once I started I couldn’t stop.” – John C. Rao
“Weird, exciting and rooting for the underdog. It shows the vulnerabilities and the lengths to which we as humans will go for our Family. Four Stars.” – Victor McKaney
“Lots of twists, very suspenseful, murder, drama, with a poetic twist at the end – enjoyable read. I would recommend, solid 3.5.” – Chris Weldy
“I found the book a good read with a few interesting twists in the plot. But I would have liked more info on the characters in the years between childhood and to the time Henry narrates the story. Other than that it was enjoyable. I give it 3.5 out of 5.” – Robert Hinderliter
“Overall it was a good book. I really appreciated the plot, and some of the unseen twists that it took. My favorite character was Libby/Serenity. Her path to, and eventual discovery of who she really was and where she truly came from was well thought out and written. I also enjoyed the ending itself. I enjoy a book that leaves something to the imagination and doesn’t necessarily have full closure in the matter. My favorite line would have to be when Henry says, “Do you have room for one more.” It leaves the true ending of what’s next for the reader to decide. I also enjoyed the fact that some chapters were written as Henry’s thoughts of conversations to Libby/Serenity. It broke up the storyline and added a perspective to the writing that broke up the narrative style. The only thing about the book that I would have wanted more from was the character development. You are told most of what they went through as children, and most of the characters are explained as far as where they are now, except for Phin. There is really not much substance to the in between years except for Lucy, and small tidbits for Henry and Clemency. Nothing really told of Phin whatsoever, and I guess overall. I would just have liked to know more about what happened to the characters between the escape from the house, and the meeting/reacquaintance at the house. All-in-all it was a good read, and I would read other books by this author.” – Steven Lomax
The Club is now deep into The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo, by Tyler Jenkins Reid. We’ll keep you posted with their review!
And just in case NC’s book choice was not up your alley – this is the official start of our new Arizona Book Club!
Their choice this go round….
The Family Upstairs, by Lisa Jewell!
I read this book a few months ago, so I will be passing on this first read, but my opinion – I enjoyed it! I would definitely give it a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I hope they enjoy it as much.
A side note to the Arizona Book Club – I was told I could not order from my usual book supplier for Arizona. I was also told to try Hamilton Book. Wow. This is not an advertisement, but if you want to join us on this read – the paperback costs only $3.95! I couldn’t really believe that. Again, not an advertisement, but as the sponser of these book clubs, that was very much appreciated. In addition to that good news, the Arizona readers intend to donate their books to the library when they get done reading. I think that is a win for everybody!
The NC Book Club has been in existence for about a year and a half now, and we are going strong. This week we started The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood. I was surprised when a member chose The Handmaid’s Tale by the same author last month. And, again, I’m surprised by another member choosing the follow up to that book.
That is one aspect of our NC book club that I find fascinating – each individual person’s book choice when it is their turn. I would not have suspected any of the titles we have read. And the choices are all so unique.
So, our summer reading will be wrapping up with The Testaments. If you want to read with us, feel free, and you can message me anytime with feedback or thoughts, or if you want to pass along any messages to the book club members themselves!
Solitary confinement, isolation – the hole. Help me to understand the impact on an individual, whether yourself, someone else, or as a whole. Share an aspect of this method of punishment that I can’t understand, never having experienced it.
Woven into the purpose of prisons is the idea of rehabilitation. Prisons are not designed to be the end. They aren’t viewed as the ‘disposal’ of people. The majority of society perceives, is under the impression, prisons are places of punishment and preparation for a more productive life. How does solitary confinement fit into that design?
Every writer I have ever encountered has either had first hand experience with solitary confinement or has witnessed its use and the consequences. Help me to understand what that means.
Only those who are incarcerated are eligible to participate.
We can’t accept anything that has been previously published.
Submission is free – BUT, even if an entry doesn’t win, we consider entry permission to publish and edit. Sometimes we get so many excellent entries, they can’t all win, but they need to be shared.
Entries should be 1,000 words or less. Poetry is considered, as long as it is inspired by the prompt.
Submissions can be handwritten.
As done in our previous contests, I will narrow down the entries to the top ten, and then hand them off to individuals to rate the writing with a point system to determine winners.
PRIZES:
First Place: $75 Second Place: $50 Third Place: $25
DEADLINE: September 30, 2022. Decisions will be posted on or before October 31, 2022.
MAILING ADDRESS:
Walk In Those Shoes Writing Contest Entry P.O. Box 70092 Henrico, Virginia 23255
Footnote: Entries that do not follow the prompt are not passed on to the judges.
For all posts from this site as well as current criminal justice issues, you can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
Our Book Club has been off to a great start in 2022. One of our members just made the next selection –
The books were ordered and shipped to our book club members on NC’s Death Row this morning. It usually takes us about four or five weeks to read our book before we discuss it. If you want to read along, we’d love your thoughts. Free free to reach out to me directly, or I can give you the address of one of our book club members at Central Prison to send your thoughts to.
Recently, I was thrilled to see a post in social media regarding a successful model of a corrections facility in Nebraska intended to give women a safe and structured place to prepare to reenter society. The post was accompanied by a photo of a lobby that was clean, comfortable and modern looking. There was art on the walls. There was a photo of a cafeteria with typical cafeteria furniture, long tables and standard stools, but there was artwork and it appeared very clean and painted in a soft blue – nothing fancy, but certainly a nice place to eat. The description spoke of an area outside for children to play, how the facility encouraged interaction between those that lived there and their supporters on the outside, as well as classrooms. There were several positive comments after mine, and then there was this one –
“Wow, nicer than a lot of homes in Lincoln. Guess they deserve that?”
And that is the inspiration for our writing contest. NOT who deserves what. We won’t waste time trying to figure out who deserves what. Rather…
PROMPT: Have you ever received or witnessed someone else receive ‘grace’ – unmerited mercy and compassion – and how did that impact you or them?
My best bit of advice for any entry – remember the prompt. There are a lot of ways to approach it, as long as the prompt is the focus, your entry will be considered.
Only those who are incarcerated are eligible to participate.
We can’t accept anything that has been previously published.
Submission is free – BUT, even if an entry doesn’t win, we consider entry permission to publish and edit. Sometimes we get so many excellent entries, they can’t all win, but they need to be shared.
Entries should be 1,000 words or less. Poetry is considered, as long as it is inspired by the prompt.
Submissions can be handwritten.
As done in our previous contests, I will narrow down the entries to the top ten, and then hand them off to individuals to rate the writing with a point system to determine winners.
PRIZES:
First Place: $75 Second Place: $50 Third Place: $25
DEADLINE: December 31, 2021. Decisions will be posted on or before January 31, 2022.
MAILING ADDRESS:
Walk In Those Shoes Writing Contest Entry P.O. Box 70092 Henrico, Virginia 23255
FOOTNOTE:WITS was inspired, in part, by the story of a boy named Jamycheal Mitchell. He stole some food – snacks – a haul of $5.05. He was mentally ill, but rather than being transferred to a facility that could help him after his arrest, he was left in a jail in Virginia to essentially starve to death. He was just 24 years old when he was arrested. He was dead several months later. ‘Wasting’ is a word used in his cause of death. In the months it took him to die, I wonder if anyone who passed by him wondered if he ‘deserved’ that.
Deserve? What does anybody deserve and how different would our world be if nobody spent time worrying if anyone else received compassion – whether they ‘deserve’ it or not?
We just finished up The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig. Overall, we felt it was an easy read, entertaining, but a little predictable. One member compared it to his all-time favorite movie, It’s A Wonderful Life.
This was also the third book read by our newly formed club. If anyone wants to join us, the book we just ordered is I Am Pilgrim, by Terry Hayes, chosen by a member, as are all the books. We will be rating all future books on a five-star scale.
If you would like to read along and forward your thoughts on I Am Pilgrim to the club, feel free to send me messages here. I will pass them along to the group.
