AQS Inmate Call

Joel Wilborn

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Supportive relationships play a crucial role in shaping our confidence and self-worth, enabling us to achieve success. One often overlooked aspect is the impact that connecting with incarcerated individuals can have on both parties involved. Engaging in conversations with those who are incarcerated can create a significant positive change, not only for them but also for ourselves.

4d ago

The Hidden Toll of Accelerated Aging

When you are sentenced to life, the system doesn’t just take your time—it rapidly consumes your body. In this episode of AQS Inmate Call, we expose the brutal reality of "accelerated aging" behind bars. Studies show incarceration fast-forwards the human body by 10 to 15 years, but for women, that biological clock spins even faster. Right now, women in their early 50s are experiencing chronic health crises, cognitive decline, and physical frailty typical of someone in their late 70s. Driven by the insights of the vital new podcast Dying on the Inside, we break down the toxic trio destroying these women from the inside out: chronic institutional stress, deep malnutrition, and a catastrophic lack of preventative healthcare. Who does it protect when a frail grandmother requires a walker just to reach the chow hall? Join us as we dismantle the hidden medical tax of long-term sentences and ask what true justice—and accountability—should look like.Listen in. Stay informed. Raise your voice for those the system tries to silence.

20 min
Jun 28

How Prison Policies Reflect Political Power

When states abolish discretionary parole, does early release actually disappear? In this episode of AQS Inmate Call, Joel breaks down a powerful, eye-opening brief by the Prison Policy Initiative that exposes the hidden reality of truth-in-sentencing laws. Seventeen states and Washington D.C. have shifted to "determinate sentencing," but their taxpayer-funded parole boards never packed up and went home. Instead, they’ve become "hollowed-out" authorities—holding massive political power, managing dwindling pre-abolition populations, and maintaining abysmal grant rates as low as 1% in states like Virginia. We dive deep into the failure of statutory "release valves" like mandatory supervision and medical parole (including a look at Arizona, the ultimate outlier with zero compassionate release options), and shine a light on the growing grassroots coalitions fighting to reinstate true retroactive parole. True parole should be a reflection of who a person is today, not who they were decades ago. Hit play to find out how these prison policies truly reflect political power, and how we can safely build a path toward meaningful reform. Resources mentioned in this episode: Read the full state-by-state brief and data appendix at Prison Policy Initiative. Stay grounded, keep building coalitions, and thank you for listening to AQS Inmate Call.

9 min
Jun 21

Reentry Navigators: Guiding the Path to Second Chances

Reentry isn’t a moment — it’s a maze.This episode breaks down Washington’s Reentry Navigator program, the statewide push behind it, and the lived reality of people trying to rebuild their lives after incarceration.The wins, the barriers, the policy, and the human cost of getting reentry wrong.

19 min
Jun 14

The Severed Lifeline

In this episode, we expose the quiet crisis spreading through America's correctional facilities: the systematic replacement of physical mail with digital scanning and the ongoing war of attrition against in-person family visitation. We look at the administrative arguments behind these policies and counter them with the harsh reality of the human toll they extract. Drawing heavily from the Prison Policy Initiative’s upcoming national brief and current June 2026 operational tracking from the Washington Department of Corrections (WA DOC), we break down why cutting these lifelines doesn't make facilities safer—it makes our communities less safe. The National Attack on Mail: Over 30 states have banned physical mail, replacing it with low-resolution digital copies on shared kiosks or paid tablets, commodifying basic human contact. WA DOC Structural Barriers: Operational closures and sudden cancellations are disrupting families across Washington State. The Long-Term Damage: Restricting physical contact and handwritten artifacts leads to measurable deterioration in mental health, a higher risk of in-prison violence, increased recidivism rates, and severe generational trauma for children left behind. A look at the active June 2026 Public Alerts and Facility Schedules cited in the episode: Washington Corrections Center (WCC): Routine multi-hour weekend closures throughout June, July, and the remainder of 2026. Non-contact restrictions are strictly enforced for specific units (R1, R2, R3). Coyote Ridge (CRCC): Frequent morning security closures for the Medium Security Complex (MSC) and Minimum Security Unit (MSU), along with strict new visitor check-in blocks. Monroe Correctional Complex (MCC): Mandated advanced scheduling restrictions implemented for the Washington State Reformatory Unit (WSRU). Airway Heights (AHCC) & WCC for Women (WCCW): Successive weekend morning session cancellations due to operational staffing constraints. National Advocacy: Register for the Prison Policy Initiative July 1, 2026 Webinar Briefing featuring Return Strong Nevada and The Humanization Project. (Includes live ASL and Spanish interpretation). Local Policy: Read up on family organizing rights via WA DOC Policy 530.155 (Family Councils). Facility Status Monitoring: Check live updates before traveling using the Washington DOC Public Alerts & Notices Matrix.

22 min
Jun 7

Shalin Alltus: When the Victim’s Daughter Speaks Out

In the podcast “The Case of Shalin Alltus,” Shalin recounts the events that led to her uncle’s murder. In this episode, Shalin’s cousin, Americus Alltus, provides the victim’s perspective on the incident.

35 min
May 31

Surviving the System: Krissi Jacobson on Turning Pain into Purpose

Imagine your lowest moments becoming your greatest source of strength. Krissi Jacobson’s raw and powerful story reveals how she faced trauma in prison and endured sexual harassment, leading her to rediscover her purpose and resilience. After a tumultuous life marked by addiction, crime, and multiple stints behind bars, Krissi embarked on a journey of self-awareness and healing. Despite the negativity surrounding her during incarceration, she learned to redefine herself, break free from past patterns, and build a future rooted in authenticity and independence. From battling to stay afloat in prison’s toughest environments to confronting abuse within the education system, her story exposes the raw truth of survival, hope, and transformation. In this episode, you’ll discover how to maintain a positive mindset amidst adversity, the significance of mental health and community support during life’s darkest moments, and the power of self-love as the foundation for lasting change. Krissi shares her experience navigating a justice system often ill-equipped to provide meaningful mental health support, highlighting the urgent need for reform and compassionate care. Her insights demonstrate that healing is possible even after years of pain, and her active pursuit of justice proves how one person’s voice can ignite change. This episode serves as a call to action for anyone feeling trapped in their circumstances—whether in prison, recovery, or life itself. If you’ve ever felt like your past defines you, Krissi’s story reminds us that we are the authors of our futures. It’s an inspiring exploration of how resilience, community, and self-love can transform the most challenging chapters into stories of triumph. This episode is perfect for those on a journey of recovery, justice reform advocates, or anyone seeking motivation to break free from cycles of pain. It shows that your best chapter is still ahead. Tune in and feel empowered to walk your own path of transformation.

20 min
May 24

Safety and Privacy

The debate over prison housing just hit the federal level. The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil‑rights investigation into the Washington Corrections Center for Women — and the stakes couldn’t be higher. This episode breaks down why the issue has exploded nationally, focusing on the core concerns driving public and legal pushback around housing biological male inmates in women’s prisons: • Safety risks and reported assaults • Privacy violations in shared cells and facilities • Trauma impacts on a population largely made up of survivors of male violence At the center is a defining question for corrections in America: Do female inmates have an Eighth Amendment right to sex‑segregated housing — or should gender identity determine placement? We unpack the legal landscape, the DOJ’s role, and what this investigation could mean for prisons across the country. Confirm details with trusted sources as this story continues to evolve.

16 min
May 17

Help or Harm

When the gate opens, the real test begins. In this episode of AQS Inmate Call, we break down why post‑incarceration DOC support is the difference between rebuilding a life… or getting pulled back into the system. We spotlight DOC programs that work — trauma‑informed reentry, peer‑led support, gender‑responsive services — and expose the failures that keep recidivism high, from releasing people into homelessness to ignoring mental‑health needs. Real stories. Real stakes. Because freedom isn’t enough — support is what makes it stick.

15 min

Trailer

AQS Inmate Call (Trailer)

AQS Inmate Call

02/21/2021

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23 sec

Supportive relationships play a crucial role in shaping our confidence and self-worth, enabling us to achieve success. One often overlooked aspect is the impact that connecting with incarcerated individuals can have on both parties involved. Engaging in conversations with those who are incarcerated can create a significant positive change, not only for them but also for ourselves.

Creator

Joel Wilborn
Years Active

2021 - 2026
Episodes

308
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Joel Wilborn
Show Website

AQS Inmate Call