In the prison library at the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, Ira Johnson is in his element. Johnson uses the library for both legal efforts and creative writing. He does so with a singular focus on getting out of prison.
What makes Johnson unique is that he is both a legal eagle — someone well-versed in the criminal justice system — and an author, who first published from inside prison.
Johnson grew up in north Philadelphia, the oldest of four children in a middle-class family, raised in what he calls a home full of love. During his childhood, he served as a supporter and protector of his younger sister, Fatima, she told me over electronic messages on my electronic tablet.
She’s proud of the self-growth he’s had in prison, helping others with legal matters and creative writing, in addition to working on his own legal filings and books.
“His fight to get out of prison and his drive to become a published literary author of merit have inspired me to appreciate freedom a lot more,” Fatima said.
An unwelcome fresh start
In 2001, at the age of 20, Johnson was convicted of a murder he maintains he did not commit. During his intake, he was strip-searched for the first time.
“It came with the promise of violence if I refused,” Johnson said. “I felt violated, shameful, angry.”
That horrible low, however, served as the impetus for a fresh start. Over the last 25 years Johnson has focused on two things. The first is ceaselessly accumulating knowledge about the law. Anything of relevance, whether favorable or not, could provide a path to proving his innocence.
His other focus is earning money. Attorney’s fees, hiring investigators, phone calls, emails, office supplies and postage all cost money — and lots of it. To date, he estimates he’s paid out $45,000 fighting his case.
Being a natural-born hustler, Johnson has held prison jobs, such as his current kitchen gig, but also worked as a tutor, a typist for hire and by helping other prisoners with their legal work.
Published from prison
Around 2010, while in another state prison, Johnson read the novel “Executive Power,” by Vince Flynn. It was an espionage thriller that engaged Johnson’s interest in militaria. It made him realize the “hood book” genre, or urban fiction, needed an upgrade that incorporated some of these espionage elements. He was inspired to write his first novel, “Declaration Declared.”
Based on establishing an alternative new world order, it also incorporates elements of espionage, suspense and science fiction. It took two years to write and came in at a hefty 868 pages. During its creation, he discovered he didn’t just have a knack for telling stories, but for telling stories others find entertaining.
His next book, which was tied to “Declaration Declared,” was “The Hitman’s Apprentice,” which became his first published novel. Several years later, he’s now working on a sequel.
Johnson eventually wants to start a publishing company exclusively for incarcerated people. One of the hardest things for authors on the inside is publishing books. Johnson estimates he spent $3,000 on his own effort. So he wants to help others get their start.
People on the inside are proud of Johnson. His friend James Sample recalled the day Johnson arrived on SCI Huntingdon’s B-block, in February 2013. By then it had been Johnson’s fourth prison in 12 years. Sample offered to help carry Johnson’s things to his assigned single cell. This was not a courtesy Sample extended to every new arrival on the block. But he instinctively recognized Johnson as a standup guy. In other words, real recognized real.
“He has the potential for greatness,” Sample said. “I would like to see his visions and efforts toward his goals materialize.”
In the years since, Sample has witnessed several changes in Johnson that have marked his growth socially, morally and politically. These changes didn’t come from a single moment of revelation. They happened over time as he has matured into adulthood. In particular, Sample said Johnson learned to be more accepting of others as they are.
When I asked Johnson about these changes, he told me how he’s become more sensitive to people with mental health issues. He is also saddened by the presence of older prisoners, as well as people who are illiterate. He’s become more accepting of other prisoners convicted of sexual abuse or other heinous crimes; being unjustly convicted himself, he said there’s no telling how true the allegations against others are.
Joshua S. got to know Johnson shortly after he arrived at SCI Huntingdon in 2018. Joshua had a store — a prisoner-run commissary that loans items out to be paid back with interest — on the block. Joshua, now 32, admitted to being young and immature when they first met through a common acquaintance. Since then, Joshua has come to consider Johnson a brother who is naturally good and intelligent.
“Unselfish,” Joshua said as a final word of assessment.
I asked Johnson what he planned to do if released.
“I’d like to say something like skydiving or swimming with great whites,” he said, “but I’ll more than likely find a job, work hard and spend time with my family.”
