Visualization / July 22, 2024

Prison Innovations

Writer James Kilgore and information artist Vic Liu demonstrate the improvisations and ingenuities that allow incarcerated people to experience some small human comforts.

James Kilgore and Vic Liu

The unforgiving, uniform structure of prison life makes it difficult for a person to hold on to their identity as an individual. Prisoner innovation is a way to reclaim control over one’s humanity. Angelo, an incarcerated artist who drew the pencil sketches shown here, writes, “If some of what’s presented here seems unimpressive, keep in mind that deprivation is a way of life in prison…. But inmates are resilient if nothing else—what’s taken today will be remade by tomorrow, and the cycle goes on and on.”

Salt and pepper shakers: Pencil lead container, empty lip balm, Bic disposable lighter
Lighter: Two D-cell batteries, stripped wire, and tape
Eyeshadow: Crushed color pencil lead
Lip stain: A bit of hot water and red M&M’s

Fakeup: Restrictions on makeup differ from prison to prison and state to state. And the makeup selection at prison commissaries, if it is available, is extremely limited, forcing people to improvise alternatives to put their self-image together. Michelle, a woman incarcerated in California, says that she received “colored pencils for my eyeliner, and calamine lotion mixed with coffee grounds for foundation. When your makeup’s good and your hair’s on point, you feel and act differently; you come to the table stronger because you have your groove on, you’re feeling it. It builds up your confidence.”

Tattoo gun: Pen barrel, pencil grip, pencil clip, needle, cassette player motor, masking tape, paper clip, and rubber band

Tattoos: People get tattoos in prison for many reasons. Tattoos can signal what group you belong to and your status in the group. But often people in prison get tattoos for the same reasons people outside of prison get them. “Some people want to look the part, some people actually do get them to illustrate their life story, and some probably get them just because it’s against the rules to get them done,” says Dan Grote, a formerly incarcerated prison teacher. “Not too different from in the world.”

Chess pieces: Toilet paper and water

Chess: Angelo’s former celly (cellmate) Ron made papier-mâché chess pieces. He “turned out exquisite sets just as fast as the cops could confiscate them,” Angelo says. “Each set became more elaborate and beautiful—his reasoning being: ‘It’s the cops’ job to keep us down, and ours to show them that they can’t.’” During the pandemic, social-distancing measures not only forced incarcerated people to often spend 23 hours a day in their cells but also resulted in the banning of board games, allegedly to reduce contagion. Harlin Pierce and his friend Wally, incarcerated in Texas, were forced to innovate how they played chess in order to maintain their sanity. They began to play mentally, without a board or pieces, by shouting the moves of each piece to the grid location, playing the game across their cells and entirely in their minds. In order to make sure they were heard correctly over the din of prison life, they created a code for the alphabet, shouting, “Dinosaur 4!” and “Knight captures on Elephant 7!” As Harlin explained, “While we have been forced to relinquish our physical freedom, we don’t have to give up control over our minds.”

James Kilgore

James Kilgore is the coauthor, with information artist Vic Liu, of The Warehouse: A Visual Primer on Mass Incarceration (PM Press).

Vic Liu

Information artist Vic Liu is the coauthor, with writer James Kilgore, of The Warehouse: A Visual Primer on Mass Incarceration (PM Press).

More from The Nation

Florida resident Ann Richter holds antisemitic flyers she found on her lawn.

Some Inconvenient Truths About Antisemitism and the Left Some Inconvenient Truths About Antisemitism and the Left

By ceding the space on antisemitism—responding when we are accused of it, but not taking up the fight against it as our cause—we’ve created a strategic opportunity for the right.

Rachel Shabi

Hundreds of Congolese protesters gather outside the BBC Broadcasting House to condemn the capture of Goma in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, and denounce the exploitation of coltan mining, believed to be an underlying motive in the offensive.

Soundtrack to a Complicit Silence Soundtrack to a Complicit Silence

Where silence becomes an accomplice, and absence is a refrain.

Maliyamungu Muhande

Miriam Adelson courtside in Dallas Mavericks merchandise.

The Revolution Against Oligarchy Has to Start Somewhere—Why Not the Luka Doncic Trade? The Revolution Against Oligarchy Has to Start Somewhere—Why Not the Luka Doncic Trade?

We should support the nonviolent anger directed toward Miriam Adelson, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks. And not just because of her terrible basketball decisions.

Dave Zirin

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump shake hands during a campaign rally at Desert Diamond Arena on August 23, 2024. in Glendale, Arizona.

Here’s What RFK Jr.’s Confirmation Means for Abortion Access Here’s What RFK Jr.’s Confirmation Means for Abortion Access

During his confirmation hearings, the HHS secretary nominee said he would fall in line with the Trump administration’s goals.

Aziza Ahmed

A man protests Trump’s effort to strangle the Affordable Care Act in 2017.

The Battle to Protect Healthcare Will Define the Second Trump Era The Battle to Protect Healthcare Will Define the Second Trump Era

Behind the language of “spending offsets” lies a stark reality: over $3 trillion in cuts that would reshape Americans’ access to healthcare.

Pat Dennis

The Carceral System Enters Its Smartwatch Era

The Carceral System Enters Its Smartwatch Era The Carceral System Enters Its Smartwatch Era

Wrist monitors like the BI VeriWatch dominated at a recent industry conference. But some 20 miles away, incarcerated men had other ideas about what the future should look like.

Blair Paddock