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"People who believe prisoners are not being punished point with disdain to a colour television set and a ghettoblaster in a prison cell to support thier argumenets. To them, it appears that physical, emotional, and psychological pain that one can see with the naked eye is the only real form of punishment. Likewise, there are parents who punish their children by physical beatings because they believe anything short of physical pain will not be effective. I suggest the same applies to some guards and their daily treatment of prisoners. If a prisoner is not in obvious pain and anguish, if he is not being made to visibly suffer, punsihment is not being properly administered. Still, any person who has suffered long term emotional and psychological abuse would be horrified that anyone would be so lacking in insight and understanding that they would point to radios, television sets, and a soft bed as evidence that real punishment under the law is not being carried out."
-Victor Hassine, from JPP Vol. 9:2 (1998)
Articles

Any JPP May Include the Following Features:

  • Cover Art: The JPP has included prisoner submitted art for covers. Art itself is an expression of identity, much like writing, and can act as a means of resistance. (See Ghunna; 1996-1997)

  • Editor's Introduction: Allows the primary editor (s) to put the articles into perspective, contextualize the issue, and comment on the status of the journal and the discourse it has and continues to produce (See Davidson 1988/89; JPP 1:2).

  • Prisoner Written Articles: The JPP and the prisoners involved have worked exceptionally hard over the years to produce articles with the Prisoner as Ethnographer. One can imagine the obstacles and barriers faced. Writers are often passionate, and relate their accounts and experiences in ways filled with remarkable strength, courage, and insight that transcend the academic, and force readers to challenge their ideas surrounding criminal justice & social control on more personal and human level. (See Bourque; JPP 1:1 1989).

  • The Response section allows for editors, board members, and prisoners to relate issues of concern, reflections, and thoughts to one another, enhancing the collaborative process the JPP tries to undertake; over time prison writers and the editorial staff and JPP board have used the section as a vehicle to communicate & educate each other about the manifestations, nature, and realities of incarceration. This section has primarily been written by non-prisoners (fellow travelers) (See Gaucher; JPP 4:2 1993).

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The JPP has developed other sections that have appeared on numerous occasions although they have not remained as consistent as the other three:

  • The Prisoners' Struggles section started in Volume (2:2) as a feature that allowed prisoners to help gain support while incarcerated, however struggle is an individuals way of combating and showing resistance against oppression. The journal has gained a great deal of knowledge through these analyses, exposing how the 'cystem' is able to create & maintain the carceral commodity and prison industrial complex. As this website grows, we hope to include the Prisoners' Struggles section on the website

  • The Book Review section is open for prisoners, former prisoners, & editorial board participation to critically analyze academic & other prisoner-written books/publications.

  • Reply/Interchange: These two sections have appeared on different occasions, with prisoners replying to each other or interchanging discourse amongst one another (See Culhane; JPP 1:1).

To View On-line Articles (PDF Format), please refer to The Back Catalogue