After a suicide attempt and arrest in the early 2000s, I entered Georgia’s prison system carrying self-hatred and confusion. Four years in solitary confinement became the turning point where I found faith, sobriety, and purpose—transforming isolation into a space for growth, creativity, and reconciliation.
When Marcus broke his hand at Georgia State Prison, he filed sick call requests immediately. Three weeks and seven requests later, he finally saw a doctor—but by then, the bones had already set wrong. Now 34 years old with a permanently damaged hand, Marcus shares his story of medical neglect and the solidarity that keeps incarcerated people human in a system that treats them otherwise.
The DOJ told Georgia to separate gang members. Georgia refused. Now 100+ die annually. Arizona cut violence 50% with gang segregation. After the January 2026 Washington SP massacre killed 4, Georgia’s prisons remain on lockdown—but lockdowns don’t stop gang wars. They postpone them. Separate the gangs or keep burying the dead.
