Prison Pndmic

Home
United States
Irvine, CA
Prison Pndmic

Digital archive featuring stories from people incarcerated in CA prisons, their loved ones, & staff. Initiative of faculty & students at UC Irvine.

10/06/2022

Don't miss out on our FREE speaker event! PrisonPandemic proudly invites Keri Blakinger, the author of Corrections in Ink: A Memoir, to discuss pressing issues concerning the correctional system.

Please join us at Winifred Smith Hall in Claire Trevor School of the Arts on Oct. 12th (Wed), 4:30 - 6 PM. Free signed copies available first-come-first-serve basis.

RSVP by clicking the link: tinyurl.com/4nd4a3ej
For any questions, please DM us or comment below!

09/23/2022

Join us in listening and reading the heartfelt stories of imprisoned individuals experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PrisonPandemic's Locked Down and Locked Up exhibit will be held at Catalyst Gallery, ACT 2223 in Claire Trevor School of the Arts from Sept. 27th to Oct. 14th (Tue - Fri), 2PM - 6PM.

For any questions, please DM us or comment below!

08/27/2022

Today's letter came from a person incarcerated in Valley State Prison, located within Chowchilla, CA. Prison policies are often placed without the input of those held in the facilities. As vaccines were rolled out, many felt they had no choice in how they protected themselves.

To learn about others' experiences, listen to and read more stories from our website by clicking the link in bio.
-19

08/25/2022

Today's story comes from a person incarcerated at Deuel Vocational Institution in Tracy, CA. Just like people on the outside were asked to stop in-person reunions, many incarcerated individuals were prevented from seeing their families. A huge difference is many incarcerated individuals did not have access to alternative methods like Zoom to see and hear their loved ones.

If you want to listen or learn more about this story, click the link in the bio and search "The Biggest Toll" on our website.
-19

08/20/2022

Today’s story is about the COVID-19 outbreak that took place in Valley State Prison this past winter. The author discusses systemic overcrowding issues, the inability to adhere to covid safety protocols, and CDCR staff being neglectful and menacing towards incarcerated individuals.

To listen and learn more about this person's story, go to our website and search for "A Breeding Ground." You can also read 88 more stories about Valley State Prison!
-19

08/13/2022

Today's story is from a person incarcerated at Solano County who highlighted their experience of trying to communicate during the lockdown. Due to limitations placed during the pandemic, incarcerated individuals faced difficulties receiving letters from their loved ones. Many mention this disconnection with their families leaving them feeling helpless, powerless, and even more isolated than before the lockdown.

To listen and learn more about this person's story, you can search our website for "The Bare Minimum."
-19

08/11/2022

This letter was written in Dec 2020 by a person incarcerated at the California Institution for Women in Chino, CA. Amidst the pandemic, the winter surge was one of the worst outbreaks across many California state prisons. Due to restricted activities and visitations, there were very few ways to cope with the ongoing pandemic.

You can listen and learn more about this person's story by searching "No Fresh Air" on our website after clicking the link in bio.
-19

07/30/2022

Today's story comes from an incarcerated individual in Chino, CA, who talked about instances of overcrowding and disregard for health safety protocols. People were unable to social distance and lacked the necessary sanitizing supplies. California prisons' living conditions only worsened for many during the pandemic.

To learn more about this person's experience, click the link in our bio and search "We're Scared" on the website.
-19

07/23/2022

Today's story comes from a person in California Correctional Institution. This facility saw a sizable outbreak of COVID-19 in January of 2022, once again drastically altering prison life. Additionally, CCI's confirmed case rate is double that of Kern County. It's very hard for incarcerated people to protect themselves against this rapidly spreading virus.

To learn more about this person's story, go to our website, select Tehachapi from the prison directory, and listen to "No Matter How Bleak."
-19

07/21/2022

Our story today comes from a person incarcerated at Deuel Vocational Institution. Though DVI has been closed since September 2021, our archive has stories from the entire duration of the pandemic. Through these testimonies, we can see what it was like to be in a closing CDCR facility during COVID.

To hear more stories like this one, go to the website in our bio and choose Tracy from the list of prisons.
-19

07/12/2022

Today's post comes from an individual incarcerated at Salinas Valley State Prison. Prison staff has been accused of neglecting COVID-19 safety protocols, such as providing incarcerated people appropriate masks. Beyond that, those incarcerated in this facility are often unable to acquire alcoholic sanitizer, gloves, long-lasting soap, and other important cleaning supplies. Without these necessities, higher rates of disease can occur more easily.

Visit our digital archive today to listen and read about how incarcerated people are coping with the pandemic.
-19

07/08/2022

Today's story comes from a person incarcerated at Wasco State Prison. While detailing the differences between jail and prison during the COVID pandemic, this person mentions how their cellmate helps them stay positive. Many of the stories on our archive report the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and good mental health in the face of the pandemic and the prison system.

To hear more stories like this, go to the link in our bio, choose Wasco, and select "Comfort and Safety."

Address

Irvine, CA

Website

https://linktr.ee/UCIPrisonPandemic

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Prison Pndmic posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Irvine?