Conversation with Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

Object Details

Creator: Anacostia Neighborhood Museum
Names: Anacostia Community Museum; Anacostia Neighborhood Museum; Lorton Correctional Complex (Washington, D.C.); Lorton Reformatory
Collection Creator: Smithsonian Institution. Anacostia Community Museum

Place: Lorton (Va.); Virginia; Anacostia (Washington, D.C.); Washington (D.C.); United States

Topic: African Americans; Prisons; Reformatories; Prisoners; African American prisoners; Rehabilitation; Racism

Citation: Conversation with Formerly Incarcerated Individuals, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

Scope and Contents: Formerly incarcerated individuals discussed the effect of penal institutions on their lives; rehabilitation; work and educational opportunities and assignments; description of maximum security versus minimum security; black youth in prison; length of prison sentences; public court system and court appointed lawyers; racism within the criminal justice system and penitentiaries; homosexuality in penal institutions; and training opportunities within prison which lead to skills to gain employment when released from prison. Much of the conversation revolves around Lorton Reformatory/Lorton Correctional Complex and Occoquan Workhouse; Federal Correctional Complex in Petersburg also mentioned. John Kinard asked a question to the individuals toward the end of the recording.; Discussion. Audio only. Very poor audio quality. Transcribed from physical asset: Rap Session on Lorton by Male Anacostia Resident. Undated.

Restrictions: Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.