On October 05, 2015, the Honorable Judge Steven Hippler handed me a 15-to-40-year prison sentence for two count of arson. During my sentencing hearing, he said it wasn’t clear from what affliction I suffered and whether I was capable of responding to treatment. Starting in 2021, I began writing Hippler on an annual basis to share how I’m serving my time in prison and attempting to reconcile the harm that I’ve caused others. I don’t know if he reads my letters because he has yet to write me back. Maybe he never will, but I find it nonetheless important to include him in my efforts.
12/25/25
Greetings Judge Hippler,
I hope this update finds you in good health and spirits! Would you believe I kept so busy during year 11 of my incarceration that I again didn’t have time to take up an institutional job? Not to worry, Your Honor, I’m taking steps to change this in April, when a highly coveted position becomes available in my facility’s Audio/Visual department, where a local nonprofit empowers prisoners to participate in commercial video production work for commercial pay.
Here’s some of what I did do this year:
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- Helped manage and grow my prison’s peer-mentor program
- Worked with a Berlin (Germany) artist to create a specialty coloring/fun book
- Participated in a Victims Impact class piloted at my prison
- Answered ACLU-Idaho‘s request to share my experiences with Idaho’s criminal justice system
- Gained membership into the Prison Journalism Project (PJP) chapter for the Society of Professional Journalists
- Interviewed for an awareness campaign with the Institute to End Mass Incarceration, on the subject of prison journalism
- Completed an A/V training course using DaVinci Resolve software
- Completed and repeated a course on Advanced Investing
- Entered PJP’s new Learning+ program
- Published several written works away from my blog
- Maintained a positive attitude while watching skin cancer spread on my face
- Completed an Idaho State University administrative services course
- Joined the advocacy platform prisonprofessors.org
- Appeared in profile with 20 other U.S. prison writers during the launch of PEN America’s Incarcerated Writers Bureau
- Received a brief mention online from People Magazine
- Co-published an illustrated story on Idaho prison life with an amazing artist and elder who crafted the limited-edition bookmark I am enclosing as a token of our blossoming friendship About the PJP articles
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I’ve also enclosed [“Who Should Care for the Elderly in Prison?“, “The Value of Mentors in Prison“] — I’ve been sending out copies to Idaho media, sheriffs and lawmakers. I plan to develop relationships with local jail officials so that I might connect those in their custody with mentors when I’m released.
Keep up the good work, Your Honor. And thank you for serving Idaho!
Happy holidays,
Patrick Irving
Bookofirving82431.com