Welcome to the Washington Prison History Project

The Washington Prison History Project is a multimedia effort to  document the history of prisoner activism and policy in our state. The site features a robust collection of prisoner-produced newspapers from the late 20th century; oral histories and testimonials about the Washington state prison system; research on local histories of punishment; and a text-adventure computer game designed inside a maximum security prison. 

Throughout its history, Washington state has been a national leader in both punitive policy and prison reform. By highlighting the stories of currently and formerly incarcerated people, the project provides a fuller understanding of what prison means and how it has changed over time. Explore highlights from the archive on this site, or visit our complete archive at diglib.uwb.edu/wphp.

We are regularly adding new material. Please explore the site now and check back again soon!

Updates from the University of Washington Bothell's Project on Mass Incarceration in Washington State