Federal Prisoners of New York

February 13, 2016 9:08 AM

In case you missed it, Humans of New York (previously) has recently been doing a series specifically on federal prisoners in the northeastern United States. The project is ongoing, but you can read the stories compiled so far, and general reactions to the stories, on the facebook page or instagram.
posted by likeatoaster (8 comments total)

I have been reading these on Instagram. The stories are heartbreaking. Amazing how powerful it is to read people's stories, in their own words. Thanks for the post.
posted by pjsky at 9:21 AM on February 13, 2016 [1 favorite]

KALW has been doing something similar with the san quentin prison report: Live@SanQuentin - "On Saturday night, Dec 5, 2015 more than 200 people filled the pews of the Catholic chapel inside San Quentin State Prison for a first-ever uncensored storytelling event behind the prison walls. Together, inmates and volunteers, officers and staff gathered to hear stories about the all-too-secret, often misunderstood community that sustains each of them inside and outside the prison walls... this special episode offers the chance to hear the voices and stories too often silenced by imprisonment."
posted by kliuless at 9:41 AM on February 13, 2016 [2 favorites]

The project juxtaposes people who were in a terrible spot, who never had a chance, who suffer unfairly under draconian sentences, with genuine sociopaths. It's a strong artistic choice, and it seems to give some of the Facebook commenters whiplash.
posted by Countess Elena at 12:12 PM on February 13, 2016 [4 favorites]

HONY Facebook commenters love having something nice to say about everyone, so being faced with some of these stories where the subject shows no remorse for the crimes they admit to committing is really killing them.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:19 PM on February 13, 2016 [3 favorites]

The comments on this one are just great.
posted by Gymnopedist at 12:33 PM on February 13, 2016 [2 favorites]

"Facebook commenters love having something nice to say about everyone": A phrase I've never read, and probably never will again.
posted by el io at 1:11 PM on February 13, 2016

Reportedly, Obama just granted clemency to one of the subjects, a woman who was convicted of drug-dealing after being unable to escape her abusive dealer husband.
posted by praemunire at 8:20 PM on February 13, 2016 [2 favorites]

Can I just say how much I love HONY commenters? They are your one-stop shop to cheer up when the internet drives you to despair
posted by zipadee at 7:00 AM on February 14, 2016 [3 favorites]