Context Library Series

Voices on the Inside 

A Poetic Justice Self-Portrait Poetry and Photography Exhibit

Voices On The Inside is a Poetic Justice where individuals incarcerated in women’s state prisons are given the opportunity to direct their own self-portrait in collaboration with photographer Lisa Loftus and the Poetic Justice team. Their portraits are inspired by a self-portrait poem that they wrote, giving them agency over their narratives. 

The carceral system was originally developed by men (for men) but as of 2025, the U.S. is incarcerating 190,000 people in women’s jails and prisons alone (not including the thousands on parole, probation, immigration detention, and juvenile prisons).

This is of critical importance because 98% of Poetic Justice participants report having survived sexual, physical, and mental abuse prior to their incarceration, yet the system still functions by imposing punitive measures that re-trigger past experiences. These practices do not reduce harm for incarcerated folks or for correctional officers, but rehabilitation through the arts has proven to reduce harm and recidivism.

A self-portrait allows us to transform, confront, and empower. Through these photos and poems, they tell their stories.

Installation 

Interact with Voices on the Inside

In the exhibit space, visitors can participate in an interactive activity, surrounding Our Journal. Faculty interested in seeing a copy can contact Irma Ramos Arreaga at iramos@csusm.edu. 

Our Journal is an interactive workbook for children and their incarcerated parents, developed by members of the Poetic Justice Children’s Literature Project at the California Institution for Women.

From the perspective of incarcerated mothers, visiting time in a prison can be wonderful AND stressful:

• “You’re so happy to see your children, but so aware of the time left before they leave.”
• “You don’t want your toddler to get bored so you end up letting them play on the swing or watch the movie they have on the TV rather than wrapping them in your arms like mothers want to do.”
• “You’re sitting there with your 2 teenage children not knowing how to really have a vulnerable conversation, and the whole time, you’re thinking a million things...

How can I ask her to tell me what he needs or what he worries about?

How can we just laugh and have fun together despite the barbed wire and the guards?

How do I create a safe place for her to ask me questions and open up about what’s going on in her life right now?

We hope that by creating this parent-child journal for use in CDCR Visitation Rooms, Poetic Justice has created a tool for managing the challenges of parent-child separation, for making positive and lasting memories, and for deepening important connections between children and their incarcerated parents.

Cal State San Marcos Community!!! We want to hear from you!

After exploring some of the “Our Journal” pages, use one of the slips of paper provided to contribute to the 2nd Edition!

You might create an interactive game/activity designed for a very young child & their parent.

You might contribute a question that would help a young adult engage in a healing conversation with their incarcerated parent.
You might suggest a mindful activity that can be done together in a Visiting Room.

... or something else!!!

Thanks for helping us.
        ~ Sincerely, the incarcerated members of the Poetic Justice Children’s Literature Project