What We Know

First book of its kind: Lots of books of prison writing exist, but none focus on reform ideas from the people impacted by mass incarceration (currently and formerly incarcerated people); this will attract major review attention.
Cutting edge: Rides a cresting wave in criminal justice circles: placing "justice involved" people in leadership positions in the movement Editors: Vivian Nixon and Daryl Atkinson are both formerly incarcerated and are known to and respected by every person in the country working on criminal justice reform.Good back story: We did a request for proposals for this book and received over 300 submissions, many of them handwritten in prisons and jails across the country.Partnerships with the Center for American Progress: The New Press partnered with CAP to commission this book; CAP will bring its significant network and resources to help promote, starting with a launch event in Washington, D.C. They will also put up a website featuring unpublished submissions.Partnership with the Formerly Incarcerated Convicted Peoples and Family Movement: FICPFM will leverage their extensive network of justice-involved leaders to elevate the book's platform and promote the book and its authors at national conferences and meetings.The New Press's track record in criminal justice reform: The New Press is the leading criminal justice publisher, with a track record of solid sales: Chokehold (12K+), Pushout (25K+), Not a Crime to Be Poor (6500+), New Jim Crow (1.1+ million), etc.Funding: The MacArthur Foundation, Public Welfare Fund, and the Ford Foundation all support this book, including a two-year initiative to organize events inside prisons.