About Prisoner Express

The Prisoner Express program, sponsored by the Durland Alternatives Library, promotes rehabilitation by offering inmates information, education and the opportunity for creative self-expression in a public forum. Participation in this program fosters self-exploration, enrichment and knowledge. The Durland Alternatives Library has a number of ongoing programs as parts of its Prisoners Express project. Incarceration is an expensive proposition for taxpayers. Since the prison system is lacking the tools to ensure the effective rehabilitation of inmates, our program is designed to aid men and women wishing to improve themselves and to offer an outlet for their creativity.

We step through the isolation and alienation of prison life to bring hope and foster a sense of community among the prisoners who participate. While most of our efforts are concerned with reaching into prisons with artistic and educational programs, another improtant component of our program is helping prisoners reach over the walls to communicate with those of us in the "free world". We seek to present prisoners as real people rather than statistics. By furthering understanding of the prison experience, we hope to encourage more public discussion regarding the present-day model for incarceration.

This web site offers an opportunity to learn more about the programs Prisoner Express is currently offering, and, more importantly, a chance to read the writings and view the artwork of prisoners who are enrolled in our programs. We invite you to learn about the prison experience through their writings and artwork.