Humans of San Quentin logo
Maurice, 45

Maurice, 45

Stories

Meet Maurice…

“With the help of finding myself I had to understand that I needed to work on the way I perceived things. I must find something positive in every situation.”

Maurice, 45

Incarcerated: 6 years

Housed: Thumb Correctional Facility, Lapeer, Michigan.

I am from Detroit and have been in and out of prison and jail throughout my life. I am finishing my last three credits for my AA degree from Mott Community College and majoring in social work. Since I’ve been incarcerated, I’ve mentored young adults and teenagers. I have been allowed to teach an art class based on my curriculum, teaching the basic fundamentals of drawing. I am in the process of creating a nonprofit for at-risk youth in poverty-stricken neighborhoods. The nonprofit is based on self-expression through the creation of art. I’ve learned that daily art will improve one’s focus and vision. In creating art, one will generate positive thinking. The process is a form of meditation and expression, resulting in self-improvement. I don’t look at incarceration from a one-sided perspective. I use my time to build a better me and to prepare me for the future. Prison can either be a university of self-education or a dungeon of deterioration. People are anxious to improve their circumstances but unwilling to improve themselves. With the help of finding myself, I had to understand that I needed to work on how I perceived things. I must find something positive in every situation. I like to say I am the director and producer of my play. This prison journey is close to being over. I have acquired everything I need to live a positive and productive life. The prison will give birth to the new me. Thank you for allowing me to express myself and hopefully be a light to someone else’s dark path. I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to stand on this platform you’ve built for us to express ourselves and to be noticed.

Gabriel, 35

Gabriel, 35

Stories

Meet Gabriel…

“Addiction and misplaced loyalties drove a wedge between my family, friends, work, and my community.”

Gabriel, 35

Incarcerated: 4.5 years

Housed: Valley State Prison, Chowchilla, California 

I’m ‘Straight Outta Compton’ born at Martin Luther King/Drew Hospital and raised in West Los Angeles, my hometown. A rough patch of land proved to be the pressure needed for this diamond-hearted man with a heart of gold. A very beautiful distance from the Hollywood Hills, Dodger’s Stadium, and the USC campus. The Starlight is so close, and I miss walking Sunset Blvd and chilling across from the Wilshire Wiltern Venue. I had never really taken into consideration my actions. Addiction and misplaced loyalties drove a wedge between my family, friends, work, and my community. I was sent upstate to rehabilitate and to learn to correct my anti-social behavioral issues, mental disorders, educational goals, and addiction issues. My substance use disorder held control for much of my life. I was given a gift that has liberated me from addiction and behavioral anti-social problems by fully committing myself to recovery and personal development through Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, and guidance, support, and stable housing. I can now move on to a life with a career, sobriety, and someday become a father who can love my own family. I can now be a better brother and uncle. “Love life, it will love you right back.”

Jimmy, 38

Jimmy, 38

Stories

Meet Jimmy…

“The one thing that makes individuality is the practice of good works.”

Jimmy, 38

Incarcerated: 22 years

Housed: Sterling Correctional Facility, Colorado

Art has carved a path that has led me to experience a poetic journey of pleasure and pain. It demonstrates and seeks God’s greatest gift, a perfect perception with no variableness, only love. It has my arms opened wide to embrace understanding, a peace within. The process has allowed me to identify and account for attitudes and behaviors. It is an inspiration for those willing to walk by faith and labor in love, not to be first to finish but to enjoy the mileage of prestige. I challenge anyone to live and share their authentic creativity, which expresses time and reveals the mystery of the soul. The one thing that makes individuality is the practice of good works. There is a need for wise teachers to cultivate egos that are too deep in the past and in the future. A true believer in humanity hopes to find peace with one another. A state of perseveration under trial not to control, only poetic revelation of order by faith. The powerful rewards of the universe are waiting for anyone who creates Art forms that stretch across the spectrum of light and shadow. To reveal my testament, love, Art, faith, the will to choose.

Elbonie, 41

Elbonie, 41

Stories

Meet Elbonie…

I would have never thought in a million years I’d give a huge chunk of my life to the carceral system.

Elbonie, 41

Incarcerated: 23 years

Housed: Logan Correctional Center, Lincoln, Illinois

I would have never thought in a million years I’d give a huge chunk of my life to the carceral system. Entering the prison system at 18 was difficult. I wasn’t given instructions on how to behave or adapt to the rules and regulations of the institution, which oppressed my free spirit and led me to multiple trips to segregation. Even though I wasn’t positively guided through my new lifestyle, I eventually found my footing. I finally realized what was important to me and what should be important to the institution: “Rehabilitation.” Education became my priority instead of working on a prison assignment. I don’t receive “good time credit” for going to school or additional time off my sentence for any extra classes or work assignments I participate in. I focused on bettering myself because it is the only thing that will help me be successful and not recidivate upon my release, with all that I’ve accomplished, which includes but isn’t limited to an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts and becoming an undergraduate at a top ten university. Northwestern, my compassion for communication was denied in 2023 by J.B. Pritzker. At what cost can a person in Illinois present change? What does holding a person accountable mean in the criminal justice system? When will enough be enough?

Corey, 51

Corey, 51

Stories

Meet Corey..

“She was kind to everyone; she made us feel human.”

Corey, 51

Incarcerated: 21 years

Housed: Kern Valley State Prison, Delano, California

I’ve been on these plantations for most of my life. I was 8 when I first started coming to these plantations. I was in boys’ homes, camps, and prisons in 1991. I got out for 30 days in 2021. I came back for a robbery, and they gave me 75 years to life, Three Strikes. I never really liked the police or correctional officers because I have seen too much wrongdoing by them in the free world and on these plantations. I have seen officers beat prisoners while they were in handcuffs, being one of them. I witnessed them set us up to be assaulted by other prisoners and so much more. So, I would always try not to look at them and never speak to them. But after all these years, I was sent to Kern Valley State Prison, and a female officer was working there. It was hard for me not to look at her; she was so beautiful, even with no makeup. She was kind to everyone; she made us feel human. We were happy to see her. If you ever had a dog and went away for a while, you can see how happy the dog was to see you when you came back. We loved seeing her because it felt like she saw us.

Receive more inspiring stories and news from incarcerated people around the world.