In my Missouri prison wing, food is being hoarded, mental health is declining, and our families visit us less frequently or provide us with less financial support — in part because of policies made thousands of miles away.
Tariffs, higher costs of goods, economic instability and unexpected natural disasters have caused financial challenges for our loved ones, according to people I’ve spoken with in my prison. Waning consumer confidence in the economy has caused many of our family and friends to slow down on their giving or not be able to give to us at all. Beyond the financial implications, the Trump administration’s restrictions on transgender people and immigrants are causing people in those communities who are incarcerated in Missouri extreme duress.
I discovered these trends in the spring after surveying 57 of the 72 people who live in my prison wing. Out of the 57 people I spoke to, 41 were Black, seven were Hispanic and nine were white. Eight identified as LGBTQIA.
Thirty-eight of those surveyed, or 66%, said they have seen a reduction in the amount of funds sent to them via family or friends since the establishment of tariffs on global trade partners.
Some of these people have been burdened more than others. Nine people told me their families were devastated by the May 16 tornado that destroyed over 5,000 homes in the greater St. Louis area. Many of the incarcerated now rely on a monthly $10 state-provided “tip” to get by. This tip is not compensation for work, but rather an allowance that is supposed to be used for basic necessities like hygiene products and toilet paper.
Poll results revealed many incarcerated individuals lack access to essential resources:
- 73% do not have adequate food and hygiene supplies.
- 61% struggle to afford phone calls or send emails.
- 57% lack funds to buy legal materials, stamps, envelopes, pens or paper.
- 44% are unable to buy over-the-counter medications.
- 39% do not have proper-fitting clothing or clothes in good condition.
- 31% cannot afford to buy cleaning supplies for dishes and laundry.
- 33% have seen decreased video and in-person visits due to costs associated with traveling to prison.
My cellmate, D. Jones said they have felt concerned about their family during the recent economic instability.
“Not knowing if my mother and grandpa are able to feed themselves has caused extreme stress,” said Jones, who asked that I not use their first name out of respect for their family’s privacy. “I have nightmares about them going to bed sick and hungry.”
Deportations were also listed as a common concern: 61% of the Hispanics I surveyed said they fear their children/family will be deported unlawfully, even though they were born here.
One Mexican American man told me some of his family is out of work because they are undocumented and afraid to go outside due to racial profiling and deportations. Some of his family have decided to self-deport. Another man told me his grandmother now has to send some cash that used to support him to his father in El Salvador, after his father’s deportation to that country.
Residents of my housing unit have also told me they are struggling with poor mental health due to this lack of stability and normalcy, which has disrupted their lives, and made it harder for them to respond in healthy and constructive ways. I have seen some people adopt bad behaviors, such as hoarding food and supplies or abusing different substances to cope.
Another vulnerable population has experienced greater fear in recent months, too. Almost all eight LGBTQIA people in my survey stated they have experienced a spike in hate speech or hate crimes against them.
