Longer Stories From the Cell
Michael, 60
Growing up in a house dictated by an abusive alcoholic, I didn't know love as anything besides the absence of hate. My family is a casualty of McCarthyism after the Korean War. My biological dad was accused of colluding with the enemy as a prisoner...
Tien, 31
Suddenly, I am pulled from my deep slumber by a loud flushing noise. I open my eyes, and all I see is a small, dull colored room. The insidious sound vibrates through my body, leaving me in utter shock. I begin to clear my eyes and the lingering...
Anthony “Ant”, 37
As I sat before two people who would determine whether I was suitable for parole, I was reminded of the jury of twelve that sentenced me to 102 years to life for the murder of another human being, exactly twenty years ago. I was sixteen years old...
Tommy Lee, 51
My Name is Tommy Lee and I am currently residing at Sterling Correctional Facility in Colorado. I have served nearly fourteen years on a 32-year sentence and I grew up in the Berkeley Neighborhood, on the North Side of Denver. As with many life...
Rocky, 43
My name is Rocky, I’m 43 and have spent the last 22 years in prison for murder. This is my story. I was born in 1977 in the bay area to an Italian mother and Irish and English father. My early memories were great. I felt happy, loved, safe and...
Kevin, 57
Here on Death Row we have our own visiting room called ‘East Gate Visiting Room.’ We also have cages inside San Quentin’s mainline visiting room where we can visit on the days that our East Gate Visiting room is closed. This picture of me inside a...
Larry, 65
Turmoil to Tranquility I spent many years at Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City before coming to Lancaster. We were frequently on lockdown due to recurring violence. Races were separated and contact was limited. I had to navigate through...
Adriel, 43
My name is Adriel. I am one of the transwomen here in San Quentin. I am 43 years old, and a Taurus. I am Spanish, French, and Yaqui Indian. I knew by the age of 5 that I was born in the wrong body. But I couldn’t tell that to my parents, because...
Mark, 36
I am native on both sides. I’m the product of a Mexican mother and an African American father, so I’m all kinds of ‘gorgeous.’ My mother ran away from home at the age of fourteen due to her stepfather molesting her youngest sister. Her father, my...