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Stories of Life Inside

Explore the lives of incarcerated people through the power of storytelling.

Introducing the Humans…

Explore the lives of incarcerated people through the power of storytelling. Find stories, letters, and interviews written by people in prisons around the world.

📬

These stories arrive by mail.

Every month, a physical envelope arrives at your door, postmarked from San Quentin Village, California. Inside, you will find original artwork, writing, and recipes from real contributors, along with a personal letter from me, Diane Kahn, founder of Humans of San Quentin, about the people who made them. You read it. You keep it.

Every piece comes from someone serving a sentence. Every piece reminds you they are so much more than that.

📬 Join the Mail Club

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Torn portrait photo of a woman centered on a light neutral background with space for a story title

Christy, 41

Former San Quentin Death Row inmate portrait telling a story of redemption, family, and rebuilding life after incarceration.

Santiago, 45

Miguel Flores Duarte 1

Miguel, 49

A smiling man with a beard wearing blue scrubs and a lanyard with sunglasses hanging from it.

Craig, 39

Dontaye, 36

Dontaye, 36

Man wearing a cross necklace in a dimly lit room.

Kevin, 38

A portrait painting of Kwame Teague and a woman, both smiling, held in a hand.

Kwame, 53

Daniel Teitelbaum, a middle-aged man with short hair, looking directly at the camera against a bright yellow wall.

Daniel, 60

Francisco, 59, a bald man in a red shirt and black pants, stands with hands in pockets against a plain background.

Francisco, 59

Portrait of Jaime, 55, a man with glasses and tattoos, standing in front of a red brick wall.

Jaime, 55

Richard, 60, a bald man in a white tank top with tattoos on his arms, poses with a serious expression.

Richard, 60

A man in blue scrubs stands with arms crossed against a white brick wall, wearing a cross necklace and a watch.

Anton, 30

Close-up portrait of a Black man with short hair and a goatee, wearing a black shirt against a plain background.

Omar, 53

Portrait of a young man with glasses smiling while resting his chin on his hand.

Marcus, 44

A man with extensive tattoos on his head and arms, wearing a gold tooth and a gold chain, looking directly at the camera.

Shawn, 34

Two men in blue shirts smiling for a photo; one has a white cap and neck tattoos, the other wears glasses and a badge.

Tech, 45

Front-facing portrait of an adult man standing against a height measurement backdrop with black ruler markings and numbers. He has short dark hair, a neutral facial expression, and is wearing a light beige collared shirt. The image resembles an identification or booking photograph

Deshon, 38

A man with a shaved head and tattoos on his neck, wearing an orange jumpsuit, against a light blue wall.

Brandon, 44

A man and a young child in blue shirts look at the camera outdoors.

Ian, 41

Three Black people posing for a selfie indoors. A woman on the left smiles while holding a phone, a man in the center wears sunglasses and a white t-shirt, and a woman on the right smiles while holding a bottle.

Rashawn, 27

More Stories of Life Inside

Find more stories, letters, and interviews written by people in prisons around the world.

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Tommy, 56

I have heard that bragging is not bragging if you have actually accomplished what you are bragging about. True, false? I have no idea. What I do know is that…
September 2, 2026
Jeffery, 63, a man with a beard and sunglasses, sits on a chair with his left arm in a cast, in front of a wooden wall decorated with an American flag.

Jeffery, 63

Freedom. Independence. What does this mean for an individual serving a life sentence? As the nation celebrates 250 years, putting on such a fanfare as parades and fireworks shows, I…
August 25, 2026
Johnathan Jones picture

Jonathan, 46

I would go out during the Christmas holiday to tag and cut down trees, and haul them to a trailer. We would load them, then unload them at a property…
August 17, 2026
User Safety: safe

Justina, 31

Be true to yourself and trust in the Lord and the Holy Spirit will help you discern. You are a torch bearer. Share your light. Fan the flame of others.…
August 13, 2026
Two men shaking hands in front of a brick wall; one man holds a blue notebook with 'HUMANS' written on it.

Michael, 64

I survived! I was found suitable for parole on March 25th after 25 plus years. I am a man making much better decisions than I did 25 years ago. This…
August 9, 2026
A woman with long dark hair wearing a white shirt, smiling against a red background with white star patterns.

Diana, 48

After ten years of incarceration, my life has changed, and I am so grateful for all the love and support I have gained. I will succeed and regain my outer…
July 2, 2026
Portrait of Liliana "Lily" wearing a grey beanie, black glasses, and a blue shirt, with a beaded necklace and a small microphone clipped to it.

Liliana “Lily”, 33

This time, I carried the belief that my personal freedom cannot be taken from me. This time, I would not try to be someone I was not. This time, I…
June 9, 2026
A black and white portrait of Heather, 32, smiling warmly.

Heather, 32

This is the story they all want to hear. This is the tale that brings the strangers near. This is the why, because it was never a whodunit. This is…
May 19, 2026
Jeffery Shockley, 63, wearing sunglasses and a white t-shirt, kneels in front of a waterfall backdrop.

Jeffery, 63

Self forgiveness is when you acknowledge your mistakes and accept them as part of your human experience. It is when you let go of guilt and shame, choosing instead to…
May 12, 2026
Jelani King reflecting on redemption

Jelani, 46

I was rescued and sent to prison for horrible choices against human beings. Here I am 27 years later, questioning if there’s a woman out there for me? It will…
April 24, 2026
Arnoldo Juarez, 48, lying on a green lawn with his black dog.

Arnoldo, 48

My Godson is a puppy. A childhood friend asked me to baptize his son when I get out of prison. It would be an honor. I thought I will lift…
April 22, 2026
Five Black men in matching uniforms stand in a row against a plain wall.

Allen, 65

I had a friend of mine connect to your website, and there I was, Arkansas Nightmare of Injustice, the Allen Lynn Penn Story, for all to see. One day when…
April 14, 2026

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