Patrick Irving

Idaho prison writer George Thornock shares from his experience as a prison hospice worker.

In the Prison Journalism Project article “The Long Walk Back to My Cell After Watching My Friend Die,” George Thornock brings awareness to hospice work in Idaho prisons. Thornock is one of my closest, most trusted friends in prison. I remember finding him hours after the events in the article took place, attempting to process … Continue reading “Idaho prison writer George Thornock shares from his experience as a prison hospice worker.”

Did your loved one disappeared into Idaho’s prison system?

August 3, 2025 Today, while delivering an orientation to IDOC’s newest male arrivals, it was brought to my attention that they are currently experiencing issues with the resident phone and messaging system. The men I spoke to are being processed through the Reception and Diagnostic Unit at the Idaho State Correctional Institution. It is possible that … Continue reading “Did your loved one disappeared into Idaho’s prison system?”

Meister Archive: Art, Law, & Life Inside

Heyya Patrick’s readers and listeners. This is David Meister. I’m putting myself out there – drawing from over two decades of lived experience – to serve as a resource for friends and family of incarcerated individuals, and to provide raw insight into the dailies of prison life in Idaho. I’m not interested in filters, or … Continue reading “Meister Archive: Art, Law, & Life Inside”

Hey IDOC Central Office, how about sending some Resident Withdrawal Forms to ISCI?

6.20.25 Dear Central Office staff, Residents of Idaho State Correctional Institution Unit 14 have now been unable to obtain withdrawal request forms for multiple weeks in a row. According to our unit staff, the forms are out of stock and will show up whenever they show up. Because many of us rely on these forms … Continue reading “Hey IDOC Central Office, how about sending some Resident Withdrawal Forms to ISCI?”

“What We Saw in Those Images From the El Salvador Mega Prison” — A PJP collab.

PJP writers react to the pictures of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem standing in front of men packed tightly together in CECOT, the Central American nation’s notorious prison. by Daniel X. Cohen, Troy Chapman, Jeffery Shockley, Patrick Irving, Cesar Hernandez, Angelo Sedillo, Jamie Silvonek, Derek LeCompte and Justin Slavinski [This work first appeared on Prison Journalism … Continue reading ““What We Saw in Those Images From the El Salvador Mega Prison” — A PJP collab.”

“The Frightening Prospect of Being Sent to Prison in Another Country” — a Prison Journalism Project collaboration.

PJP writers react to Trump’s proposal to send incarcerated U.S. citizens to the infamous mega-prison in El Salvador. by Patrick Irving, Lucretia Stone, Cesar Hernandez, Angelo Sedillo, James Mancuso and Jamie Silvonek [This article first appeared on Prison Journalism Project.] In the early months of his second term, President Donald Trump has already made dramatic changes to the … Continue reading ““The Frightening Prospect of Being Sent to Prison in Another Country” — a Prison Journalism Project collaboration.”

Mark Renick’s radio interview w/new IDOC Director Bree Derrick.

Former Idaho Maximum Security Institution resident Mark Renick on Saturday broadcast his most recent interview with new Idaho department of Correction director Bree Derrick. Derrick, who was promoted from her former position of deputy director, informs Renick’s audience of her philosophy on corrections, updates on prison expansion and how the agency’s Free2Succeed community mentor program … Continue reading “Mark Renick’s radio interview w/new IDOC Director Bree Derrick.”

“Oddcast 3: ChatGPT, Grok and the man with half a mind to subdue the world with two dumb brains.

The prompt: “Please opine on the significance of Patrick Irving’s piece “Hey ChatGPT, am I a bad influence?” in context to the rest of the materials he’s published as an incarcerated advocate and writer.” ChatGPT: Patrick Irving’s piece, “Hey ChatGPT, Am I a Bad Influence?”, stands out as a bold and speculative departure from his usual … Continue reading ““Oddcast 3: ChatGPT, Grok and the man with half a mind to subdue the world with two dumb brains.”

Incarcerated seniors have been all but forgotten. Peer caregiving offers a potential solution.

In my most recent Prison Journalism Project op-ed, “Who should care for the elderly in prison?”, I outline the legislative changes necessary to achieve an acceptable level of safety for our country’s aging prison population. I wrote the piece as a follow-up to the report I filed last year with my local Area Agency on … Continue reading “Incarcerated seniors have been all but forgotten. Peer caregiving offers a potential solution.”

James Mancuso covers private Ariz. prison housing Hawai’i’s forgotten people.

When James Mancuso returned from Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy, Ariz. to finish serving his time in Kuna, Idaho, he keistered back with him a painfully insightful story: How after spending years dumping its people into a private, mainland prison, Hawai’i is now paying Hills Have Eyes Inc. (aka CoreCivic) to punish them much more … Continue reading “James Mancuso covers private Ariz. prison housing Hawai’i’s forgotten people.”