Patrick Irving

Aww Snap! News (Print Edition) 9.14.24

Aww Snap! News is a Prison Dude production, paid for with a meager monthly allowance from The Prison Dude’s mom and dad. Our mission is to strengthen the information networks used by criminal justice researchers and writers–emphasis on those who work from incarceration–to better inform decisions surrounding public safety policies. You, too, can help. Getting … Continue reading “Aww Snap! News (Print Edition) 9.14.24”

Patrick’s Poetry Homework: Age 44

I am currently benefitting from an Idaho Prison Arts Collective poetry workshop led by Michael Richardson at the Idaho State Correctional Institution on Thursday mornings. I very much enjoy the workshop but have been struggling to set aside time for the homework. My assignment this week was to bring in three rough drafts for feedback. … Continue reading “Patrick’s Poetry Homework: Age 44”

Book of Irving Project launches Aww Snap! News @ThePrisonDude on TikTok

Hey folks, By now you have likely seen me mention that I am experimenting with ways to strengthen the information networks used by criminal justice researchers and writers, with an emphasis on those who work from incarceration. With support for this project currently limited to that coming in from my creative partner and family, tackling … Continue reading “Book of Irving Project launches Aww Snap! News @ThePrisonDude on TikTok”

Hey MuckRock.com, is your muckrocker broken?

Update: After posting this epistle, I emailed this thread to several members of the MuckRock team, including the product outreach manager that I first reached out to in April. That email was the only one of five to bounce, suggesting to me that he has since moved on. MuckRock COO Amanda Hickman kindly responded by … Continue reading “Hey MuckRock.com, is your muckrocker broken?”

First Amend This! An IDOC Newsletter, Aug. ’24

Previous: First Amend This! An IDOC Newsletter, July ’24 Welcome to the August edition of First Amend This! This publication provides an insider look at issues affecting the Idaho Department of Correction community. If you wish to assist this effort, share the link, copy and paste, or print and send this issue to another. Loved … Continue reading “First Amend This! An IDOC Newsletter, Aug. ’24”

Introducing: Idaho Families for Sentencing Integrity. Motivated members wanted!

From the advocate group Idaho Families for Sentencing Integrity: Greetings, Idaho Families for Sentencing Integrity (IFSI) is a newly formed group of committed citizens with loved ones that have been impacted by incarceration in Idaho. IFSI advocates for policy changes in Idaho that decrease incarceration, reduce recidivism, and improve Idaho’s justice system–particularly for those with … Continue reading “Introducing: Idaho Families for Sentencing Integrity. Motivated members wanted!”

First Amend This! An IDOC Newsletter, July ’24

Previous: First Amend This! An IDOC Newsletter, June ’24 Welcome to the July edition of First Amend This! This publication provides an insider look at issues affecting the Idaho Department of Correction community. If you wish to assist this effort, share the link, copy and paste, or print and send this issue to another. Loved ones … Continue reading “First Amend This! An IDOC Newsletter, July ’24”

First Amend This! An IDOC Newsletter, June ’24

Previous: First Amend This! An IDOC Newsletter, May ’24 Welcome to the June issue of First Amend This! This publication provides an insider look at issues affecting the Idaho Department of Correction community. If you wish to assist this effort, share the link, copy and paste, or print and send this issue to another. Loved … Continue reading “First Amend This! An IDOC Newsletter, June ’24”

2024 Commissary Pricelist for Idaho Prisons and the Special Online Handshake for the New National Commissary Database

Keefe Commissary has again increased its rates. This time by 3.2%, in accordance with the Consumer Price Index. Download the new IDOC commissary pricelist Those interested in comparing the commissary prices in Idaho prisons with prisons in 45 other states can do so by visiting the newly unveiled national commissary database created by The Appeal. … Continue reading “2024 Commissary Pricelist for Idaho Prisons and the Special Online Handshake for the New National Commissary Database”

Public Safety Benefits from Prison Art and Writing

Had New York Focus reporter Chris Gelardi last year not exposed a directive issued by New York corrections department to severely inhibit the flow of art and writing leaving its facilities, the department may have inspired carceral agencies across the U.S. to adopt its short-lived blueprint. To view the potential dangers created by such directives, … Continue reading “Public Safety Benefits from Prison Art and Writing”