Q & A with Joseph Jackson
Joseph pursued higher education while serving 19 years in Maine’s prison system. Following his release, he earned his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at USM’s Stonecoast MFA program. Today he serves as Executive Director of the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition and Co-executive Director of Maine Inside Out. He was recently named a Mainebiz 2026 Business Leader of the Year.
Tell us about yourself and the work you do as the Executive Director of the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition.
My first introduction to the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) occurred in 1995, when I was convicted of manslaughter and served 19 years in the MDOC. My experience of incarceration guides me as Executive Director. Maine Prisoner Advocacy (MPAC)’s mission is to support and advocate for Maine’s incarcerated citizens, their families and friends. Our purpose is to reduce Maine’s use of incarceration by advocating for a criminal legal system that is ethical, humane and restorative. Our vision is of a criminal legal system that is restorative; one that supports humanity in every person, and reflects and creates transformation and accountability.
What kinds of changes have you seen in Maine’s criminal justice system and what do you hope to see in the next 10 years?
The MDOC and the criminal legal system have changed substantially since I re-entered society. For instance, youth incarceration has dropped by nearly two thirds since I started doing this work. The population of youth held at Long Creek Youth Development Center has decreased from 170, to well under 50, on average. In addition, incarcerated residents can better communicate with family and friends, without taking on a huge financial burden. Moreover, services for veterans have been streamlined, and pregnant women can no longer be shackled during medical checkups or deliveries. Furthermore, incarcerated residents can hold remote jobs for companies outside of the prison walls, and formerly incarcerated people no longer have to check the box on employment applications asking about their criminal histories. These examples are not exhaustive.
What role does education play in the lives of incarcerated individuals?
Education plays a very important role in the lives of incarcerated individuals; those with the ability to access educational opportunities while incarcerated, have improved outcomes upon release and beyond. The data show that recidivism rates drop drastically if an incarcerated person receives at least an associate’s degree while incarcerated.
Tell us more about your own experience at USM, what drove you to pursue your master’s in Creative Writing?
As a youth, I was introduced to poetry while attending church. My mom signed me up to memorize and recite a poem on Easter Sunday. It was later extended to Mother’s Day, and was something I looked forward to every year. As an adult, there were periods in my life where I would play with words. It was after I became incarcerated that I began to write in earnest. As an undergraduate, I compiled a trove of loose poems into a manuscript. I shared the manuscript with mentors and close friends. One of them shared it with the dean of USM’s Stonecoast creative writing program. She came to the prison and encouraged me to apply.
My experience at USM made me realize that it wasn’t just the criminal legal system that needed reforming. Once I checked the box on the application, it was diverted from its normal path; I had to bring in a civil rights attorney and fight to get accepted to the program. Once that was sorted out, I quickly noticed that I was the only Black person in my class. There was a Black man in the class before me, and one after me. That was it. My classmates welcomed and befriended me. The professors and faculty at Stonecoast helped me develop my craft and find my voice. I was one of four commencement speakers for my graduating class, and it was one of the proudest days of my life.
You are a skilled writer and storyteller and your writing has been featured in major publications, including The Guardian. How does your experience in the MFA program inform your current work?
One of my roles as Executive Director is development. The role involves sharing the story of the organization in such a way that it motivates readers to donate their time or money to support the work.
My experience at Stonecoast centered on creativity. The act of creating art allows an audience to emotionally connect with a theme or issue. The other thing I learned that informs my work is that the creator of the art is emotionally impacted through the process of creation.
What is something you wish more people understood about Maine’s criminal justice system and the work you do at MPAC?
The first thing I want people to understand is before the buildings, before workers, before prisoners, the foundation of Maine’s criminal legal system is written. Changing the language changes the system.
The second thing I want people to understand is that it’s not even David against Goliath; a single stone won’t do. The scale between the system and citizens is vast. A major focus of MPAC is on public education. If we shift the way the public thinks about these issues, we can edit the language that lays at the heart of the system.
What advice would you give to someone looking to get involved in advocacy work?
Take cues and follow the lead of those closest to the issue.