young woman doing prison makeup tutorial

‘It has the nerve to be full coverage’: Woman shares recipe she used for makeup in prison

'Rihanna if you're watching this...'

On Jun 28, 2023 by Tricia Crimmins

IRL
Homepage article image

El Salvador’s mass incarceration movement sparks far-right lament U.S. isn’t putting more people in jail

They're thirsty for the U.S. to ramp up its already massive prison-industrial complex.

On Feb 27, 2023 by Claire Goforth

Tech
man standing next to Coca Cola Freestyle machine holding cup caption 'Just got out of a 16 year sentence, and technology has him confused' (l) man squatting down speaking into Coca Cola Freestyle machine holding cup caption 'Just got out of a 16 year sentence, and technology has him confused' (c) man putting cup into Coca Cola Freestyle machine holding cup caption 'Just got out of a 16 year sentence, and technology has him confused' (r)

‘We’re not that advanced yet’: Man struggles to use Coca-Cola Freestyle machine after being released from 16-year prison sentence

'Me with new technology constantly coming out.'

On Oct 7, 2022 by Natasha Dubash

IRL
woman holding tiny microphone speaking (l) woman holding tiny microphone speaking caption 'Things I will never do after working in a prison' (c) woman speaking into tiny microphone (r)

‘This is a reality for so many people, especially women and children’: Former correctional worker shares things she would never do after working in a prison

'Not paranoid just cautious. If I can prevent something [from] happening to me, I will.'

On Jul 29, 2022 by Braden Bjella

IRL
shopping after prison

‘It’s just too much to choose from’: Man shares the struggle of shopping after 12 years in prison

'After 4 years it was too much for me.. the anxiety of going out in public lasted for months.'

On Jul 27, 2022 by Rebekah Harding

IRL
Woman holding up Bible (l) open Bible pages with handcuffs blurred on top caption 'The real reason I always had a Bible in prison' (c) woman holding Bible with writing in the inner margins pointing to address written in pen (r)

‘That is such a bizarre & twisted rule’: TikToker shares why she brought a Bible to prison, even though she’s an atheist

'It seems like cutting people off from their support system is the absolute worst thing you could do.'

On May 29, 2022 by Braden Bjella

IRL
phone with 'upcoming visits' screen and caption 'she scheduled all his visits in jail to cancel them on the same day so no one can go see him lol' (l&r) phones on table on either side of glass panel (c)

‘Best revenge ever’: Woman schedules her ex-boyfriend’s jail visits on the same day and cancels them, sparking debate

'Just so no one else could go.'

On May 9, 2022 by Braden Bjella

IRL
Burgers from In-And-Out Burger

‘But how??’: Viral TikTok shows inmates allegedly being served In-N-Out in prison, sparking debate

'They deserve to have this.'

On Feb 18, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
A woman talking into camera and weighing herself.

‘I’m gonna end up losing weight’: Capitol rioter describes jail like a wellness retreat in viral TikTok

Jenna Ryan hopes to get down to her goal weight behind bars.

On Dec 9, 2021 by Claire Goforth

Tech
A man wearing horns and shouting in a crowd.

QAnon Shaman gets 41 months in prison for role in Capitol riot

'I admit to the world, I was wrong. I have no excuses.'

On Nov 17, 2021 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
woman wearing sunglasses and hat covering smirk with hand with caption 'Literally just called the prison to ask for day laborers' (l) woman replying (r)

‘That doesn’t f*cking sit right’: Rancher requests day laborers from prison in viral TikTok, sparking outrage

'This literally sounds like slavery.'

On Oct 12, 2021 by Rachel Kiley

IRL
A gloved hand holding a test tube with the words COVID-19

A Texas man used Facebook to scare people away from grocery stores as the pandemic started—he’s going to prison for it

He claimed he was doing it for good.

On Oct 5, 2021 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
A woman in a converted prison (L) and two women drinking in a prison cell (R).

‘This is extremely gross’: Instagrammers staying at former prison converted into luxury hotel get put on blast

'Just spent the night in prison and I loved it.'

On Sep 21, 2021 by Clara Wang

Internet Culture IRL
Reality Winner looking into camera (L) and an illustration of Reality Winner on a sign (R).

Reality Winner, sentenced for leaking info to journalists, released early from prison

Winner was charged in 2018 after giving the media classified information.

On Jun 14, 2021 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
TikToker twerking for inmates

‘Not all heroes wear capes’: Viral video shows woman twerking in front of prison windows for inmates. They love it

'That totally counts as community service.'

On Jun 9, 2021 by Nahila Bonfiglio

IRL