Submissions Guidelines

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Who do you accept submissions from? 

We specialize in publishing stories by people who have experienced jail and prison firsthand. That means we accept stories from writers who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated, people who are on parole or probation, and family members and others affected by the criminal legal system. We also accept stories by people who have volunteered or worked in the system as long as their submission is rooted in their own experience. First-time writers are welcome.  Please note that we do not publish stories about prisons or incarcerated people by journalists and others outside. 

What are you looking for? 

Prison Journalism Project publishes stories that help readers understand what life is like inside the prison system and provide perspectives on ways the system can be improved. We also like to publish inside takes on the outside world, including politics, culture, natural disasters and other current events. Writers who publish are eligible for a small honorarium, depending on state rules and regulations.

We publish articles, personal essays, opinion pieces, interviews, profiles, analyses and more. We also publish illustrations and art — accompanied by a long caption or short essay — that show a glimpse of the world inside. Our goal is to break stereotypes and help people outside understand the complex realities of prison and the people inside them. 

Who is your audience? 

Our primary audience is broad: anyone who wants to deeply understand the journey and realities of life in prison. It can include families and friends of incarcerated people, teachers, advocates, lawyers, social workers, journalists, researchers and people who work in prisons or in prison administration. 

What don’t you publish? 

• We don’t publish fiction, religious sermons, academic research papers, legal arguments, poetry or book excerpts. 
• We don’t publish claims of innocence, stories that re-victimize individuals or justify crimes, or show bias or hate of any kind, including racism or sexism. We also don’t publish pornographic or gratuitously violent material. 
• We don’t publish stories that are sent anonymously (without your name). Even if we agree to publish a story anonymously (see below), we still need to verify that it came from a real person. We also don’t publish stories that are sent to us by someone who is not the writer if we can’t get their permission directly. 
• We usually don’t publish stories that have already been published elsewhere. 

Please do not send us book manuscripts, articles and stories that are more than 1,200 words, or entire bodies of work. We also cannot provide legal help, publicize advocacy campaigns or advertise your books and projects. We don’t want you to waste the postage. 

How do you choose which stories you accept? 

First and foremost, we love a good story with rich details that make the world of prisons and the people inside come alive. We like to see stories that only you can tell. Stories that are timely are welcome, but they don’t have to be. 

Because half our mission is to train writers in journalism, we work most closely with those who are committed to learning and developing their skills with us through our Learning+ program or our correspondence-based handbook training programs. 

This does not mean you can’t get published if you are new to PJP; we still look at every story submission that meets the above guidelines. But unfortunately we cannot respond to submissions we don’t plan to edit and publish. Writers will often publish one or two stories before they enroll in our training program. To increase your chances, follow one of our writing prompts below or in PJP Inside. 

I want to submit a story, but I don’t know what to write. Can you suggest some ideas? 

For a list of prompts, please see our story ideas page here.

How do I enroll in your training program? 

You can learn more about our Learning programs here. A good start is to check out PJP Inside, our training publication, which comes with writing prompts and assignments. You can find it on Edovo or in your prison library. If your library doesn’t have it, they can request copies by reaching out to us. If you are interested in our correspondence-based handbook program, send a letter explaining why you would like to learn the tools of journalism. Please send letters of interest to 490 43rd St., Unit 360, Oakland, CA 94609.  

How do I submit a story? 

• At the top of your submission, please provide the following information: 
  • Date of submission
  • Full legal name and prison ID number
  • Preferred name (if different than your legal name)
  • Your facility name and mailing address
  • Best way to contact you (mail or prison messaging)

• Send your story through postal mail to: 

Prison Journalism Project
Attn: FIRST STORY
490 43rd St., Unit 360
Oakland, CA 94609 

• If you can type your article, please do. It will be much easier to read and scan your work.
• Please note that we cannot return submissions. If you need to hold onto your piece, please make a copy. 

Can I publish anonymously? 

We prefer not to because readers are less inclined to trust stories without the author’s name. However, we understand that there are sometimes good reasons to do so, especially if your safety is at risk. If you’d like to publish anonymously, please explain the reason, so we can discuss it with you. 

What happens after I submit? 

• We’ll review your story and respond within 4-6 weeks if and only if we are able to work with it for publication. Unfortunately, we are not able to respond to submissions we do not accept for editing and publication.
• If accepted, you’ll work with an editor to answer questions, respond to edits and verify facts. The editing process is rigorous, similar to the kind of editing experience you would get in a professional journalism organization.
• You’ll be asked to sign a licensing permissions form, giving PJP permission to publish the piece. (You still own your work, which means you can re-publish it, share it with another publication or use it in whatever way you want to.)
• You’ll be asked to provide a short two- to three-sentence bio that describes who you are with a few of your relevant accomplishments. 
• If your story is published, you will receive an honorarium if your facility and local laws allow it.

What if I don’t hear back from you? 

We receive hundreds of pieces of mail every month, so we are unable to respond to every submission. If you don’t hear from us, it probably means that we did not accept your story. We are only able to work with a very small fraction of the stories we receive.  

What happens after I get published?

Submit another story or assignment, or submit a story idea to discuss with editors. Follow the steps in our story form here. Writers who finish four PJP Inside assignments or publish three stories with us may be invited to our advanced programs for more training. You will also: 

• Build your skills and portfolio.
• Become a part of a national community of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated writers.