Every prison has its own vibe and culture. This section publishes shortform dispatches and slices of life that illustrate what makes each prison in California unique.
The Quiet Power of the Cotton Blanket
At Central California Women’s Facility, this modest household item is wonderfully comforting for an individual but transforms an institution when shared.
Upper Yard Birds
Residents of San Quentin Rehabilitation Center await their move into the newly constructed Learning Center—including the feathered ones.
Lessons in Race
How our correspondent found his way out of the racial animosity enforced by prison and gang culture.
The Quiet Place
What’s it like to live in a nursing home inside a prison? No one knows better than Sally Whitham, CCWF Skilled Nursing Facility’s longest resident.
Stressed Out
An uptick in violence at Mule Creek Prison leaves our correspondent wondering about the place of officer mental health in California’s prison reform efforts.
A Brief History of Prison Pants
What state-issued uniforms lack in style and comfort, residents make up for with creativity.
The Meltdown
Ingenuity and resourcefulness make prison routines feel more like home. And sometimes wreak havoc.