Incarcerated people at CSP Corcoran worked together to create chalk art throughout the prison, aimed at increasing awareness of suicide in prison.
In 2021, 31 people committed suicide in California’s prisons, with others struggling with suicidal thoughts and attempts, the Prison Journalism Project reported in a March story.
Depression is prevalent for incarcerated people because they do not know when they are going home and because they are so far from their homes.
But by sharing stories of losing loved ones and fellow prisoners to suicide, the population of Facility 3B found solidarity.
In an effort to raise awareness to those struggling with thoughts of self-harm, the residents of the facility joined to draw positive messages in chalk art on the outer walls of their housing units, reported PJP.
Jessie Milo was one of the chalk artists. He wrote messages emphasizing the power that incarcerated people can find in hope. He offered a distinction between hopes that are grandiose and those that are more basic, that provide inspiration and forward looking.
“Live your life for the release date you want, not the release date you have,” Milo left on the walls in Corcoran. Since the report Milo transferred to San Quentin.
