He Survived War … But Almost Died in Prison: The Need for Medical Release in Hawai’i
Joshua Hairston has spent 17 years behind prison walls, almost half his entire life. He was 18 when he was sentenced to 40 years, and it’s almost impossible to imagine how someone that young — facing four decades inside — could find hope for any kind of meaningful future. But that’s exactly what he has…
I Sent 45 Cards, One for Every Year He Was Alive
On January 15, 2026, Jerry James was granted a pardon on a 26-year sentence by former Virginia Gov. Youngkin. Jerry’s wife, Paulettra James, has been a staunch FAMM member for years. At one point over the years, Paulettra had the chance to hand-deliver Jerry’s clemency petition to the governor, saying, “I know you and your…
Documentary on Alabama prisons in the running for an Oscar
February 26, 2026 The buzz is already underway ahead of this year’s Academy Awards. One nominee for Best Documentary Feature Film may be getting some extra attention here in Alabama. The film “The Alabama Solution” is shining a light on conditions in the state’s prison system. The documentary uses footage shot by inmates and smuggled…
From Juvenile Lifer to Justice Advocate: Bryan Widenhouse
What does it mean to grow up in prison—and come home determined to change the system that confined you? On this episode of Prison to Promise, host Dr. Craig Waleed sits down with Bryan Widenhouse, a formerly incarcerated advocate who spent over 30 years serving a life-without-parole sentence for a crime committed as a teenager.…
Lawsuit Alleges New York Holds Juveniles in Solitary Cells Without Toilets
Teenagers as young as 12 years old in New York juvenile detention centers are held for prolonged periods in solitary confinement cells without plumbing, according to a lawsuit filed earlier this month. A federal class action lawsuit filed by the Legal Aid Society and the law firm Jenner and Block alleges that the New York State Office…
New Law Requires Prison-Based Hospice, Palliative Care Data Reports
January 20, 2026 Lawmakers in Illinois passed legislation requiring prisons to submit annual hospice and palliative care data reports. The new law is designed to improve end-of-life support among incarcerated populations.
Truth-in-sentencing costs Illinois thousands of years — and billions of dollars
In 1998, a new law quietly multiplied the years many people would spend locked up in Illinois prisons. “Truth-in-sentencing,” a policy passed by the Illinois General Assembly during a wave of “tough-on-crime” laws, promised to create more transparency around prison sentences. Instead, the policy rolled back opportunities to earn sentence reductions by eliminating or sharply…
Joint prison committee meets for first time since ‘The Alabama Solution’ documentary
A new HBO documentary is bringing national attention to the problems behind Alabama’s prison walls, and it was topic of discussion in the state legislature’s joint prison committee. The Wednesday morning meeting was the first time the committee has held a public meeting since the documentary’s release. Some people who attended the meeting wore t-shirts that called…
Murphy was a clemency hero. Sherrill has to step up for NJ | Opinion
Jan. 28, 2026 When we closed the curtain on Gov. Phil Murphy’s tenure, he left behind some big shoes for Gov. Mikie Sherill to step into as her term began. As part of my work, I often speak with government officials who are wary of using their powers to give incarcerated people second chances due…