Art & Writing from
People Incarcerated in Illinois
Each year, JHA receives hundreds of letters from people who are currently or were formerly incarcerated. Some of those letters contain poems, cartoons, or other pieces of art that incarcerated people wish to share with us. Incarcerated people also share other publications with us, including articles and magazines created for their peers. The items below are just a sample of the amazing work we receive. This section of our website is generously sponsored by The Di Lullo Family.
“A Day in the Life of” Timelines
In our Q3 2025 response letter to people who are incarcerated who write to JHA, we asked those who were interested to share the details of a day in their life with us. Here are just a few of the responses we received presenting a picture of what a day in custody looked like for individuals at IDOC facilities. All of the stories listed have been shared with JHA for publication; we thank everyone for their contributions.
Cartoons by Arkee Chaney
Arkee Chaney is a formerly incarcerated artist and cartoonist who sent us many of his cartoons during his time in prison; you can find a handful below. Arkee spoke about his art during JHA’s Virtual Annual Event 2020; view the video here.
Art by Renaldo Hudson
Renaldo identifies as an artistic expressionist committed to ending mass incarceration. His art is reflective of the pain and the beauty of resisting the status quo. While on death row, Renaldo learned to express himself with oil and acrylic paints to escape the horrors of death row. Now that he is free, he makes art to expose the inhumanity of death by incarceration facing people with life sentences, also known as the other death penalty. Click here to see more of his work.
Art & Poems by Don Collins, Midwest Illinois
Mr. Collins has spent years in art and writing to combat time. Click here to see his poems and more artwork. More of his work can also be found at PrisonInmates.com. The artwork to the left is entitled “Projected Lifeline.”
Written Publications
Two Roads E-Zine - published by the men incarcerated at Kewanee Life Skills Reentry Center
Stateville Speaks - a newsletter written by and for incarcerated individuals, their families, those working in the correctional system, and other interested citizens. (the Winter 2026 issue has an article from JHA’s own David Staples & Anthony Thomas)
Kewanee Horizons Newsletter - a newsletter published by a group at Kewanee Life Skills Re-Entry Center to highlight positive things across the state at all IDOC facilities to help encourage and inspire other individuals to advocate for themselves and share stories of growth and restorative justice.
Northwestern Insider - the official magazine of the Northwestern Prison Education Program
Prison+Neighborhood Arts/Education Project - a visual arts and education project that connects teaching artists and scholars to incarcerated students at Stateville Maximum Security Prison through classes, workshops, a policy think tank, and guest lectures.