My Maine Stories

Added March 27, 2025

I feel like I am serving the sentence with him
by Nicole Lund

An officer reprimands a visitor for her attire, later suspending her visits for non-compliance.

Added March 26, 2025

Childhood Trauma Caused by Childhood Incarceration
by Buddy Bieler

Buddy reflects on trauma he experienced at the Maine Youth Center Special Management Unit as a child

Added March 26, 2025

Kolyn Mattson's Story
by Kolyn X. Mattson

Kolyn X. Mattson reflects on the impact of their mother's addiction and incarceration.

Added March 26, 2025

A Fight Worth Fighting
by Philip McIntyre

Philip McIntyre argues that current incarceration practices lead to recidivism.

Added March 25, 2025

A Case for Restorative Justice
by anonymous

The writer reflects on the impacts of incarceration on their father and their friend.

Added March 5, 2025

An Unknown World
by anonymous

The writer reflects on growing up with an abusive father who was in and out of prison for years.

Added February 27, 2025

Who do you want living next door?
by anonymous

The writer reflects on the lack of mental health services for Maine's incarcerated individuals.

Added February 27, 2025

The System Doesn't Care about Rehabilitation
by Robert Fogg

Robert describes periods of incarceration from a young age to the present.

Added February 20, 2025

Hope
by Buddy Bieler

Buddy reflects on the experience of being incarcerated over the last sixteen years.

Added February 18, 2025

Hurt People Hurt People
by Nicole Lund

Lund describes experience volunteering at Maine State Prison and befriending an incarcerated person.

Added November 11, 2024

Stripped Of More Than Clothing
by Dan Adams

Juvenile strip searches while incarcerated.

Added February 26, 2024

A Conversation with Charlotte Warren
by Charlotte Warren and Matt Matheny

A conversation with the former chair of Maine's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Added February 7, 2024

Make It Great Again
by SC

2020, Acrylic on canvas

Added February 1, 2024

For Sale
by ALD

2022 Pen on paper 9 x 12 in

Added June 16, 2023

Used, Abused, Battered, and Confused
by Anonymous (Maine Correctional Center)

The experience of domestic violence and the criminal justice system in Maine

Added June 16, 2023

My Story of Trauma
by Anonymous (Maine Correction Center)

The process of being incarcerated is traumatic. This is my story.

Added June 16, 2023

If You Knew My Story
by Anonymous (Maine State Prison)

A story about incarceration in Maine

Added June 16, 2023

My Journey: Training Service Dogs in Prison
by Anonymous (Maine State Prison)

Inmates at Maine State Prison train dogs as service and companion animals. This is one story.

Added November 15, 2021

Thoughts of Freedom
by Raymond

Painting my thoughts and loves while incarcerated at Maine State Prison

Added May 5, 2021

We Are An Ordinary Family
by Catherine

Maine's abolitionists offer an answer to my questions about my family's experiences.