Thanks to Westsound Magazine and contributor Ann Randall for publishing a story about my work in their March/April 2022 Features section.

“Author Inspired by Personal, Professional Experiences,” touches on my 18 years teaching inside women’s and men’s prisons in Washington State and my twelve published books. They highlighted Unlocking Minds in Lockup, a memoir of those years that shows readers how prison education makes a difference. Going inside prisons to teach parenting, family relationships and social responsibility classes was an honor.

Why would I call it an honor? First, I recognized a need for parenting curriculum designed for the population and wrote a nontraditional text that will soon be released in its fourth edition.

Almost 3-million U.S. children have a parent in prison. Statistics say about 80% of women offenders left minor children behind, while about 60% of incarcerated men are dads. Parenting and family classes inside are designed to teach offenders how to help their children cope with the reality of separation, specifically for separation caused by incarceration.

Separation by incarceration was already creating socialization problems for children of all ages who have a parent inside. Then Covid 19 spread around the world, further separating children from their peers, teachers, and youth program leaders. Many prisons had to halt all in-person visiting.

Mass incarceration costs over $80-billion per year in tax dollars while our politicians and social systems leaders dither about what to do about criminal justice.

Any change begins with increased awareness of the problem. You can increase your awareness and understanding by reading Unlocking Minds in Lockup.  The book retails for $16.95. It’s available to you now for $10. That includes shipping. That’s a $20.95 value for only $10.00. Order it now.

Email me at jan@janwalker-author.com to request your copy.

Email me at jan@janwalker-author.com to request your copy.