Zhi Kai H. Vanderford, incarcerated for nearly 40 years, says prison is no longer about rehabilitation — it’s a failed system that devastates families and communities.
inmate voices
Posted inOpinion
State-run prison labor monopoly lacks accountability
An MCF-Rush City inmate exposes how state-run MINNCOR Industries profits off inflated prices, canceled fundraisers, and unpaid labor—leaving incarcerated Minnesotans struggling to afford basic needs.
Posted inOpinion
Rush City is Minnesota’s newest failing prison
An MCF-Rush City inmate says Minnesota’s newest level 4 prison is overcrowded, understaffed, and unsafe. He calls for legislative oversight.
Posted inOpinion
When a piece of paper becomes a barrier to freedom
For over a year, Minnesota inmates have been unable to buy typing paper — essential for legal filings, education, and religious coursework. Andrew Krosch exposes how a simple failure to bag paper reflects a much larger systemic problem.