Iowa has one of the nation’s highest rates of African American incarceration in the country and, according to a new report, mandatory minimums may be responsible. Mandatory minimum sentences require a specific amount of time in prison and at least 70 percent of sentences served before eligibility for parole. Iowa is one of the only […]
Iowa Prison
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Notes from the Inside: I was wrong
Notes from the Inside features writing by inmates serving time in Iowa prisons. Little Village editors have made only minor adjustments for style. When I was asked to join hospice for the first time, it was around five or six years ago. I thought, “This is not for me.” I am not the kind of […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Notes from the inside: Working toward the future while behind bars
Notes from the Inside features original writing by inmates serving time in Iowa prisons. The authors of this article are contributors to the Iowa Medical…
Posted inCommunity/News
Notes from the Inside: Struggles behind bars
Notes from the Inside features original writing by inmates serving time in Iowa Prisons. Here, Oakdale Prison inmates discuss some of the daily challenges they face. One very big challenge in prison is the loneliness of being separated from my family. I feel, as an inmate, not being able to see the people I love […]
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Notes from the inside: What to expect upon entering Iowa’s prison system
When you first arrive at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center (IMCC) it can be overwhelming for some people and just downright scary for other people. You’ll be…
