The REFORM Alliance Speaker Series features some of the leading thinkers, organizers, and activists in the criminal justice field. Through these conversations, we stay on the cutting edge of research, policy, and lived experience—especially around probation, parole, and the broader landscape of supervision reform. The Speaker Series is also an opportunity for members of the community to join us, listen, and find common cause with people who share a passion for creating change.

What if the stories of our prison and supervision systems weren’t just told by big name journalists and Hollywood writers—but were told by the people who had experienced these systems firsthand?  

That’s just one question Chandra Bozelko will unpack at REFORM’s August Speaker Series event, happening Wednesday, August 27th at 12:00 p.m. ET. Join us virtually or in person at our new event space at Peerspace on 38th Street in New York City.

Chandra poses with a copy of her poetry collection, Up the River.

From a prison cell at Connecticut’s York Correctional Institution, Chandra began to write about her life behind bars. Despite having minimal writing experience and no internet access, she started chronicling her daily reality with a pen and pad. Her work eventually became The Prison Diaries, the first syndicated newspaper column in America authored by an incarcerated person. She has since become a nationally-recognized columnist, author, and justice reform advocate. 

Chandra participates in a panel discussion for Women’s Day at the Connecticut State Capitol in 2017.

Since her release in 2014, Chandra has written more than 200 columns for outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Forbes, becoming a leading voice for justice reform. A JustLeadershipUSA Fellow and alumna of the John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenheim Criminal Justice Reporting Fellowship, she also serves on the boards of the Society of Professional Journalists (CT) and the Women and Prison Association. Here’s a snapshot of her story told in her own words: 

I chose to spend more time in prison rather than be considered for parole—because I believed parole offers more risk than rehabilitation.  

I served a little over six years in York Correctional Institution, Connecticut’s only state women’s prison. My writing in prison started as a way to protect myself legally: It was entries on my calendar like “This happened on this date.” Over time, I found myself noting other women’s experiences—moments that were poignant, absurd, heartbreaking. I realized I had an entire collection of stories in those little boxes on the calendar. I started sending some of them to newspapers, not knowing if anyone would care.

A relatively new online outlet called the New Haven Independent did care. The Independent not only published my first submission, they asked for more—regularly. That became The Prison Diaries, a short-lived serial column. I became the first incarcerated person in the United States to write a regular syndicated column from a prison cell. 

It was a real-time lesson about the stories that have the privilege of being told—and, crucially, the stories that don’t have the privilege of being released into the world. 

I had two years left to serve in prison when I was asked to complete the paperwork to be considered for parole, and despite the allure of living outside the prison, refused to participate. The possibility of leaving under supervision and being sent right back, even if I hadn’t done anything wrong, was more than I was willing to risk. At least in prison, there wasn’t much more for me to lose. 

I’m looking forward to sharing more about my experience at the REFORM Speaker Series and how the state of Connecticut demonstrated to me the downsides of correctional supervision.

Chandra will discuss her journey through the justice system and explore the role media plays in public perception and public policy around safety and justice. 

We’re thrilled to welcome her to the REFORM Speaker Series and learn from her experience.