Joseph Dole is currently serving a life without parole sentence after his first felony conviction upon a theory of accountability—a conviction he continues to fight pro se. He has been isolated in Tamms Correctional Center, Illinois' only supermax prison, for almost 9 years. Beginning to write 7 years ago, his first essay was included in the book Lockdown Prison Heart (iUniverse Inc., 2004). Since then he has written a number of articles, essays, research papers, and proposals—two of which were catalysts for Illinois legislation, including a bill and a resolution. This essay won a PEN America Award. He has also been published in Stateville Speaks Newsletter, Grapevine Newsletter, The Insider Magazine, Prison Legal News and the Public 1 newspaper. Some of his writings can be viewed at www.jailhousejournalist.info, which is a slow work-in-progress.
