Support Our Mission: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 14:33, 3 June 2026

Prisonpedia is a free reference on the United States federal criminal justice system. The pages here cover statutes, court procedure, sentencing, Bureau of Prisons facilities, and the people who have moved through that system. The goal is plain. Put accurate, sourced information in one place so the people who need it can find it fast.

Most readers arrive at a hard moment. Someone is facing charges. A family member just got a surrender date. A reporter is checking a fact on deadline. A student is trying to understand how a case actually moved from indictment to sentencing. Those readers do not need opinion. They need facts they can trust and a citation they can follow.

This page explains what the project is for and how you can help keep it useful.

What Prisonpedia is

Prisonpedia documents the federal system as it works on paper and in practice. Articles fall into a few groups. Profiles cover individuals with federal cases of public record. Facility pages describe specific prisons and camps. Topic pages explain legal mechanics like supervised release, restitution, the Residential Drug Abuse Program, and post-conviction remedies.

Every factual claim is meant to carry a citation. We lean on primary sources first. Department of Justice press releases, court filings, the U.S. Code, Bureau of Prisons records, and the Federal Register. Established news reporting fills in the rest. Where a source is weak or a fact cannot be confirmed, the page says so or leaves it out.

The reference is free to read. There is no paywall and no account required to use it.

Why it exists

Reliable information about federal cases is scattered. Court records sit behind PACER fees. News coverage moves on after sentencing. Official sources use language that is hard to parse if you have never read a judgment before. Prisonpedia pulls those threads together and writes them in clear English.

The work matters most to people who are not lawyers. A defendant trying to understand a plea agreement. A spouse trying to learn what a facility designation means for visits. Someone preparing for self-surrender who has no idea what to pack or expect. Good information lowers the fear that comes with not knowing.

How you can help

You do not need a law degree to improve this resource. Most contributions come from people who simply know one thing well and write it down accurately.

Add what you know

If you have direct experience with a facility, a program, or a process, that knowledge is valuable. Notes from inside a specific prison. The real steps in a reentry process. How commissary or phone access actually works day to day. Write what you saw, keep it factual, and point to a source where one exists.

Improve existing pages

Articles go stale. A facility changes its visiting hours. A statute gets amended. A release date passes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, fix it and add a citation. Small corrections add up.

Add sources

A claim without a source is a claim we cannot stand behind. If you find a page making a statement that has no citation, look for a primary or reputable secondary source and attach it. Strong sourcing is what separates a reference from a rumor.

Share the resource

The simplest help costs nothing. If a Prisonpedia page answered a question for you, pass it to the next person who needs it. Link to it from a forum thread where someone is asking. Send it to a family member who is searching for the same answers you were. Reach matters because the people this serves often do not know the resource exists.

Editorial standards

Contributions are held to the same rules as the rest of the site. State legal outcomes precisely. Someone was charged, pleaded guilty, was acquitted, or was sentenced. Do not guess at motive or character. Do not sensationalize. For any claim that could harm a living person's reputation, cite two or more independent sources.

We do not publish unsourced gossip, anonymous tips presented as fact, or material lifted from other encyclopedias. The point is to be the page a careful reader can rely on, not the loudest one.

Contact and corrections

If you find an error and are not able to edit it yourself, flag it. Send the page name, the specific claim, and a source that shows the correct fact, either through the article's talk page or by email to [email protected]. Corrections backed by a citation get priority. Accuracy is the whole product here, so a good correction is one of the most useful things you can send.

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-Prisonpedia is a free, volunteer-supported encyclopedia dedicated to helping people navigate the federal criminal justice system. Since our founding in March 2024, we have worked to provide accurate, accessible, and practical information for defendants, families, attorneys, and anyone seeking to understand the federal prison system.
+Prisonpedia is a free reference on the United States federal criminal justice system. The pages here cover statutes, court procedure, sentencing, Bureau of Prisons facilities, and the people who have moved through that system. The goal is plain. Put accurate, sourced information in one place so the people who need it can find it fast.
-Our content is created by individuals with direct experience in the criminal justice system, legal professionals, families who have supported loved ones through incarceration, and subject matter experts committed to demystifying this complex system. Every article represents hours of research, writing, editing, and fact-checking by people who care deeply about this mission.
+Most readers arrive at a hard moment. Someone is facing charges. A family member just got a surrender date. A reporter is checking a fact on deadline. A student is trying to understand how a case actually moved from indictment to sentencing. Those readers do not need opinion. They need facts they can trust and a citation they can follow.
-== The Work Behind Prisonpedia ==
+This page explains what the project is for and how you can help keep it useful.
-Building and maintaining a reliable reference work requires substantial ongoing effort:
+== What Prisonpedia is ==
-* '''Research and Writing:''' Each article requires careful research into statutes, Bureau of Prisons policies, court documents, and verified firsthand accounts. Our contributors work to ensure every piece of information is accurate and properly sourced.
+Prisonpedia documents the federal system as it works on paper and in practice. Articles fall into a few groups. Profiles cover individuals with federal cases of public record. Facility pages describe specific prisons and camps. Topic pages explain legal mechanics like supervised release, restitution, the Residential Drug Abuse Program, and post-conviction remedies.
-* '''Editorial Review:''' All content undergoes editorial review to maintain our standards for accuracy, neutrality, and clarity. We verify claims, check citations, and ensure articles serve their intended audience effectively.
+Every factual claim is meant to carry a citation. We lean on primary sources first. Department of Justice press releases, court filings, the U.S. Code, Bureau of Prisons records, and the Federal Register. Established news reporting fills in the rest. Where a source is weak or a fact cannot be confirmed, the page says so or leaves it out.
-* '''Ongoing Maintenance:''' The federal criminal justice system evolves constantly. Laws change, BOP policies shift, facilities open or close, and programs are created or eliminated. Keeping our content current requires continuous attention.
+The reference is free to read. There is no paywall and no account required to use it.
-* '''Technical Infrastructure:''' Running a publicly accessible website involves hosting costs, security maintenance, and technical development to ensure Prisonpedia remains fast, reliable, and accessible to all.
+== Why it exists ==
-== Our Independence ==
+Reliable information about federal cases is scattered. Court records sit behind PACER fees. News coverage moves on after sentencing. Official sources use language that is hard to parse if you have never read a judgment before. Prisonpedia pulls those threads together and writes them in clear English.
-'''Prisonpedia does not accept advertising or paid placement of any kind.'''
+The work matters most to people who are not lawyers. A defendant trying to understand a plea agreement. A spouse trying to learn what a facility designation means for visits. Someone preparing for self-surrender who has no idea what to pack or expect. Good information lowers the fear that comes with not knowing.
-This commitment is fundamental to our credibility. The information we provide has real consequences for real people making critical decisions about their lives and the lives of their loved ones. We will never allow commercial interests to influence our content. You will never see sponsored articles, paid listings, or promotional content disguised as editorial material.
+== How you can help ==
-Our independence means you can trust that when we write about prison consultants, legal services, facilities, or programs, we are providing objective information—not paid endorsements.
+You do not need a law degree to improve this resource. Most contributions come from people who simply know one thing well and write it down accurately.
-== Supporting Our Work ==
+=== Add what you know ===
-For those who have found Prisonpedia helpful, we do accept voluntary donations to support our continued operation.
+If you have direct experience with a facility, a program, or a process, that knowledge is valuable. Notes from inside a specific prison. The real steps in a reentry process. How commissary or phone access actually works day to day. Write what you saw, keep it factual, and point to a source where one exists.
-Donations are distributed equally among our volunteer editors on a quarterly basis, weighted according to each editor's contributions during that period. This allows us to recognize and support the people who dedicate their time and expertise to building this resource.
+=== Improve existing pages ===
-=== Our Donation Guidelines ===
+Articles go stale. A facility changes its visiting hours. A statute gets amended. A release date passes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, fix it and add a citation. Small corrections add up.
-We operate under two simple but firm principles:
+=== Add sources ===
-# '''No editorial influence:''' We do not warrant, promise, or imply that any donation will result in content changes of any kind. Donations do not buy favorable coverage, article placement, or editorial consideration. Our content decisions are made solely on the basis of accuracy, relevance, and service to our readers.
+A claim without a source is a claim we cannot stand behind. If you find a page making a statement that has no citation, look for a primary or reputable secondary source and attach it. Strong sourcing is what separates a reference from a rumor.
-# '''Editor anonymity:''' Editors are never made aware of who has donated or the amounts involved. This firewall ensures that our contributors make editorial decisions based purely on merit, without any possibility of conscious or unconscious bias toward donors.
+=== Share the resource ===
-These principles protect both the integrity of our content and the independence of our editorial team.
+The simplest help costs nothing. If a Prisonpedia page answered a question for you, pass it to the next person who needs it. Link to it from a forum thread where someone is asking. Send it to a family member who is searching for the same answers you were. Reach matters because the people this serves often do not know the resource exists.
-== How to Contribute ==
+== Editorial standards ==
-If you have found value in Prisonpedia and wish to make a financial contribution, please contact us at:
+Contributions are held to the same rules as the rest of the site. State legal outcomes precisely. Someone was charged, pleaded guilty, was acquitted, or was sentenced. Do not guess at motive or character. Do not sensationalize. For any claim that could harm a living person's reputation, cite two or more independent sources.
-'''team@prisonpedia.com'''
+We do not publish unsourced gossip, anonymous tips presented as fact, or material lifted from other encyclopedias. The point is to be the page a careful reader can rely on, not the loudest one.
-We are grateful to everyone who has supported this project—whether through donations, contributions to our content, or simply by sharing our resources with others who need them.
+== Contact and corrections ==
-== Other Ways to Help ==
+If you find an error and are not able to edit it yourself, flag it. Send the page name, the specific claim, and a source that shows the correct fact, either through the article's talk page or by email to [email protected]. Corrections backed by a citation get priority. Accuracy is the whole product here, so a good correction is one of the most useful things you can send.
-Financial support is just one way to help Prisonpedia grow:
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Mission, Support Our}}
+[[Category:Prisonpedia]]
-* '''[[Contribute|Become a contributor]]:''' If you have relevant experience or expertise, consider joining our team of volunteer editors.
-* '''Share our resources:''' If you know someone navigating the federal criminal justice system, point them to Prisonpedia. Word of mouth remains our most important form of growth.
-* '''Provide feedback:''' If you spot an error, have a suggestion for improvement, or know of a topic we should cover, let us know at [email protected].
-Every form of support helps us fulfill our mission of providing reliable, accessible information to those who need it most.
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