Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Christopher Monihan
‘I’m Only Getting a Second Chance if Laws Change’
This story is part of Locked Out, a special series from PJP about voting, politics and democracy behind bars. Click here to read more. Incarcerated since 1996, I’ve learned the hard way that politics controls my life. As a lifer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a state with notoriously harsh sentencing laws, I will only get a second chance if laws change.
The Awe-Inspiring Sight of a Total Eclipse From a Prison Yard
Shortly after on April 8, I donned my sunglasses and stood in the center of the prison yard. I watched as the coal-black lunar disc slowly smothered the sun. All around me I heard prisoners clapping and cheering. I removed the glasses, as it was safe to look at the total eclipse. What I saw left me breathless. Staring at the sky, I remembered the solar eclipse of Feb. 26, 1979, when I was 7.
The Healing Power of Horse Therapy for Prisoners
As I trailed my hand along the railing of the pen, I felt the cool touch of steel and the warmth of the morning sun on my face. A breeze rolled through, soothing my brain. The round pen was situated in an open expanse of green. Two quarter horses, one taller than the other, plucked lush grass. Their tails swished and noses snorted. The last time I stood this close to a horse I was 11 years old. My childhood friend Janet had introduced me to her horse Midnight.
Q&A: 8 Incarcerated Parents on Caring for Kids From Behind Bars
Prison Journalism Project trains incarcerated writers to become journalists and publishes their stories. Subscribe to Inside Story to receive exclusive behind-the-scene looks at our best stories, as well as author profiles and other insights. Being a parent can amplify the struggle of living in prison. In-person visits and phone calls are the primary ways incarcerated people keep in touch with loved ones. But that setup isn’t easy. Many prisons are not close to urban centers, where most people live.
What Caused His PTSD? This Prison, Right Here
This story was updated on March 9, 2023, to include information received from the writer after the original piece was published. I had a friend. His name was Teddy Poelking. Teddy was incarcerated for 25 years. Before his release, Teddy told me he was worried about going back to society. “Why?” I asked. “What is there to worry about?” According to Teddy, a lot. “First off,” he said, “the cars drive themselves nowadays, Christopher. They’re even electric.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Christopher
Contact Christopher, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack