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Stories from before, behind, and beyond the bars.

An unflinching account of a decade-long prison sentence and beyond. From the courtroom to confinement, Five to Twenty is an unfiltered look at America's criminal justice system and a former inmate's search for freedom and redemption.

Latest Stories

Suicide Watch

Concrete cells, tamper-proof smocks, and constant observation—suicide watch strips away everything except the essential human exchange between watcher and watched. These stories capture what emerges when two prisoners face each other across steel barriers, finding connection in a system built on isolation.

About Five to Twenty

In 2011, at the age of twenty-four, the author began a twelve-year sentence for downloading child pornography. Throughout his incarceration, he documented his experiences in handwritten essays transcribed and published by his father. With unflinching honesty and unexpected humor, he captured the stark realities of prison life, its complex social dynamics, and institutional abuses.

Since his release in 2021, his writing has become a vital contribution to criminal justice reform conversations, exploring probation, sex offender treatment, and life on the registry. His work provides insights into a system of perpetual punishment that continues to marginalize those seeking to rebuild their lives. The author lives in Dallas, Texas.