The holidays are a somber time in prison, but they are not only that.
“[They present] a full spectrum of feelings,” Floridian Stephanie H. told PJP contributor Brittany Miles. “Some are happy because it’s their last holiday here. But others are depressed because they are still here. Everyone is trying to navigate through all these feelings.”
That’s a good way of summing up the sentiments incarcerated people shared with PJP contributors. As we near the end of 2025, we asked writers inside to interview their peers about the holidays — how facilities change, how people take care of one another, what they’re grateful for, and what is most difficult about this time of the year.
Below, PJP editors have curated a selection of these reflections. They have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
— PJP Editors
On how facilities change during the holidays
“I notice the attitudes of people begin to shift, and their fuses become shorter. I see a lot of sadness. I myself still try to pretend that I’m home, so I get very excited and try to decorate. The holidays were always huge in my family, so I try to make them huge for the people here because we’ve created our own family.”
— Della M., of Pennsylvania, as told to Jamie Silvonek
“There are ‘holiday sales’ of pizza or burgers that are priced at double or triple inflated rates. It’s disguised capitalism playing on the desperation of men who are fed trash year-round.”
— Cheadle, of New Mexico, as told to Angelo Sedillo
“Everyone gets antsy. A lot of fights break out. People are on edge, angry at not being home, depressed, morose.”
— Justin B., of Michigan, as told to Christopher Dankovich
“Some men band together, some retreat inside themselves. There’s a lot of frustration at not being home, but I’ve seen many people find joy.”
— K.D., of Michigan, as told to Christopher Dankovich
“[The holidays present] a full spectrum of feelings. Not all are positive or negative. Some are happy because it’s their last holiday here but others are depressed because they are still here. Everyone is trying to navigate through all these feelings.”
— Stephanie H., of Florida, as told to Brittany Miles
“Usually the prison is really boring around the holidays because we are locked down because of staff shortages.”
— Jorge A., of California, as told to Brian Quintanilla
“[During the holidays] suicide watch gets full.”
— Lorna C., of Arizona, as told to Shajiyah Iman
“San Quentin is unique because here I see lights put up in a prison, and I’ve never seen that before in 18 years of incarceration.”
— Alfonzo Landa of California, as told to Clayton Addelman
On taking care of each other during the holidays
“Some dudes go around asking if guys need phone calls to their family. [As a result] dudes who have no money on their accounts get to call their kids. Dudes step up even though they don’t have to. It’s a real human component that comes together during Christmas.”
— Justin, of New Mexico, as told to Angelo Sedillo
“The best thing I ever saw in prison was a holiday party two Christian bunkies threw for the whole cellblock — a hundred men. They spent over $1,000 of their own money and prepared months in advance. Everyone, regardless of religion, was invited. It was beautiful.”
— Chris Dankovich, of Michigan
“I see my family, including my kids and grandchildren, who all come to a special holiday party. It’s a great time! Administration and staff really go out of their way to make it special. They decorate the room, and there is an inmate who dresses up as Santa Claus and takes pictures with the kids. The children receive a big trash bag full of cool presents that say ‘From Mom’ or ‘Grandma.’ I am able to see them open at least one Christmas gift.”
— Monica Mogg, of New Jersey, as told to Lucretia Stone
“For Christmas, my cellmate and I cook for 12 to 15 people. We try to make a decent meal considering the limited ingredients we have on commissary.”
— Richard T., of New Jersey, as told to Shakeil Price
“I like decorating. The only time of the year I do arts and crafts is for the holidays. Last year, I did a giant Frosty the Snowman that was hanging from the ceiling. This year I’m doing Santa and his sleigh. People can’t help but be in a better mood when our section is fully decorated.”
— Hector, of Texas, as told to Cesar Hernandez
On gratitude and the best holiday treat
“The best holiday treat is getting the day off, which I get about every seven years.”
— C. Pence, a correctional officer in Washington state, as told to Jeffrey McKee
“We’d meet in the afternoon at the chapel to pass out music [for caroling], then sing on the steps of the cafeteria until the last group passed through for dinner. Afterwards, we’d go to the medical units. They had guys in there with Alzheimer’s and other things, who’d just sit there most of the day. But when we started singing, they started moving their lips to the songs. It brought Christmas to them, sometimes when their mind wasn’t able to comprehend where they were. That was quite a treat.”
— Paul L., of Idaho, as told to Patrick Irving
“Mine is when the volunteers bring food. What goes with the holidays? Holiday food. When you are home, what are you doing? Cooking with your family. So when the volunteers bring food it makes it feel a little more like home.”
— Jessica S., of Florida, as told to Brittany Miles
“I’m grateful that I finally kissed and hugged my grandbaby. She recognizes me as grandpa and doesn’t see me as the monster I became.”
— Robert, of California, as told to Brian Quintanilla
“When I first came to prison I thought it was weird people had prison moms, dads and sisters. But now I’ve been here a few years, I’ve chosen my prison family and I’m so grateful for them.”
— Yesenia S., of Florida, as told to Brittany Miles
“Around Christmas, I look at all of my most cherished photos in my photo albums in order to feel like I’m surrounded by family. I sink deeply into various memories I have that are triggered by those photos and I feel the warmth of love enveloping me.”
— Emanuel Walton, of New Jersey, as told to Derek Jason LeCompte
“I love to try and build a cake and try to get it as close to those you would see in Safeway. [And] I try to drink a mocha every day in December.”
— Frank Scales of Oregon, as told to Philip Luna
On the hardest parts of the holidays
“When I call home to talk to my family, and everybody is there except me.”
— BW, of Texas, as told to Khaȧliq Shakur
“Being away from family and loved ones as well as [being in] the environment of the facility itself: dirty razor wire, concrete and fences … no nature.”
— Rick R., of Arizona, as told to Chastyn Hicks
“That energy that builds throughout the cities, that holiday spirit, is infectious. In here, the general feeling goes the opposite direction. Colder, more depressed, people missing their families, that kind of thing.”
— Charlie B., of Idaho, as told to Patrick Irving
“The silence. The empty space where family should be. Seeing guys break down when they get bad news from home during the holidays. Knowing we can’t just go home, be there and help. It’s a heavy weight.”
— Clayton A., of Idaho, as told to Patrick Irving
“Inmates are more depressed as the dorms get more decorated. Phone lines are longer. Video visits are booked more in advance. More tears are shed and inmates start isolating themselves more.”
— Jessica L. of Texas, as told to Brenda Payne
“The holidays are a difficult time for me because I think of the family my actions impacted. There is a family, children, who have a great piece — a person — missing from their celebration. Because of me. My family can visit, either in person or by virtual visit, while the family I hurt must go visit a grave site. While the holidays represent that special time for others, it’s a time that I pray for those whom my selfishness now devastates for generations.”
— Jeffery Shockley, of Pennsylvania