Contribute

Prisonpedia exists to provide accurate, comprehensive, and accessible information about the American criminal justice system, particularly for those navigating it firsthand.

Launched in March 2024, we are building a knowledge base for the justice-impacted, by the justice-impacted: created by individuals with direct experience in the criminal justice system, legal professionals who work within it, families who have supported loved ones through it, and subject matter experts committed to demystifying its complexities.

Our mission is to compile reliable, well-sourced information that helps people make informed decisions during some of the most challenging periods of their lives. We cover topics ranging from pre-sentencing strategies and prison consultant services to facility-specific information, legal processes, re-entry resources, and post-incarceration life. Every article is intended to serve as a practical resource grounded in real experience and verifiable facts.

Why Contributor Quality Matters

As a young project still in its early stages, we are acutely aware that our credibility depends entirely on the quality and accuracy of our content. The information we provide has real-world consequences for real people making critical decisions. A poorly researched article about prison medical care could lead someone to make uninformed choices about their health. Inaccurate information about sentencing guidelines could give false hope or unnecessary anxiety. Unverified claims about prison conditions could mislead families trying to support their loved ones.

For this reason, we maintain high editorial standards and carefully vet all contributors. We are not a platform for rumor, speculation, or personal grievance. We are building a serious reference work that can be trusted by defendants, families, attorneys, researchers, and policymakers alike.

Current Registration Policy

Registration is currently restricted. Unlike open wikis where anyone can create an account and begin editing immediately, we require prospective contributors to connect with us directly before gaining editing access. This allows us to:

• Verify the identity and background of potential contributors
• Understand each contributor's areas of expertise and experience
• Ensure alignment with our editorial standards and mission
• Maintain the integrity and reliability of our content
• Build a community of trusted contributors who can collaborate effectively

We recognize this creates a higher barrier to entry than fully open platforms, but we believe it is necessary at this stage of our development. As we grow and establish robust editorial processes, we may revisit this policy. For now, quality and trustworthiness take precedence over rapid expansion.

What We're Looking For in Contributors

We seek contributors who bring one or more of the following qualifications:

Direct Experience: Individuals who have navigated the federal or state criminal justice systems, either as defendants, inmates, or family members of the incarcerated. Personal experience provides invaluable insights that cannot be found in official documentation, particularly regarding day-to-day realities, unwritten rules, and practical strategies for survival and success.

Professional Expertise: Criminal defense attorneys, prison consultants, sentencing mitigation specialists, probation officers, corrections professionals, social workers, re-entry counselors, and other professionals who work within or adjacent to the criminal justice system. Your professional knowledge helps ensure our content is legally accurate, procedurally correct, and practically useful.

Research and Writing Skills: Contributors should be capable of writing clearly, citing sources appropriately, and presenting information in an encyclopedic, neutral tone. We model our editorial standards on those of Wikipedia and other serious reference works. Personal opinions and advocacy have their place, but Prisonpedia articles should be factual, balanced, and well-documented.

Commitment to Accuracy: All claims must be verifiable and properly sourced. We prioritize primary sources (statutes, court documents, official Bureau of Prisons policies) and reputable secondary sources (legal publications, academic research, established news organizations) over anecdotal reports or hearsay.

Collaborative Spirit: Contributing to Prisonpedia means working with other editors to build something larger than any individual could create alone. This requires patience, willingness to accept editorial feedback, and commitment to consensus-building when disagreements arise.

What We Expect from Contributors

This is volunteer work. Prisonpedia is a community resource, and all contributors donate their time and expertise. There is no compensation for articles written, edits made, or time invested. Contributors participate because they believe in the mission and want to help others navigate the system they themselves have experienced or studied.

Neutrality and objectivity. While many of our contributors have strong views about criminal justice reform, individual articles must maintain an encyclopedic tone. Advocacy, opinion, and personal narrative belong in clearly labeled sections or separate projects—not in reference articles about legal processes, facility information, or procedural guidance.

Proper attribution. All information must be properly sourced. Original research and personal experience can inform articles, but claims of fact must be verifiable through reliable sources. We follow citation standards similar to those used by Wikipedia and academic publications.

Respect for editorial process. Articles may be edited, restructured, or supplemented by other contributors. No one "owns" an article. The goal is to create the best possible resource, which often requires collaborative refinement over time.

Long-term commitment. We are looking for contributors who will remain engaged over months and years, not those seeking to make a single edit and disappear. The criminal justice system evolves constantly—laws change, policies shift, facilities close or open, and programs are created or eliminated. Maintaining an accurate, up-to-date knowledge base requires ongoing attention.

How to Apply

If you believe you would be a valuable contributor to Prisonpedia, we want to hear from you. Please email [email protected] with the following information:

• Your background and areas of expertise (personal experience, professional credentials, research interests, etc.)
• Specific topics or areas where you could contribute valuable information
• Examples of your writing, if available (published articles, blog posts, legal briefs, or other relevant materials)
• Your motivation for wanting to contribute to Prisonpedia

We review applications on a rolling basis and will respond to all serious inquiries. If we determine you're a good fit for our contributor community, we'll provide you with login credentials, access to our editorial guidelines, and guidance on how to begin contributing.

We understand that some potential contributors may wish to remain anonymous or use pseudonyms given the sensitive nature of this subject matter. We can accommodate these concerns while still verifying credentials and expertise through our vetting process.

Building Something That Lasts

Prisonpedia is still in its infancy. We have much to build, refine, and improve. But we are committed to doing this work carefully and correctly, laying a foundation that can support decades of growth. We are not interested in becoming the largest criminal justice wiki—we are interested in becoming the most reliable, the most trusted, and the most useful.

If you share that vision and have the expertise, commitment, and integrity to help us achieve it, we welcome your application.

Email us at: [email protected]