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Continue reading →: When Lockdowns Happen, You’re Locked Out Too
Prison lockdowns can happen for almost any reason. Someone fights. A storm hits. Guards call in sick and they are short staffed. The unit goes quiet. Phones shut off. Visits cancel. No calls. No messages. No updates. You don’t get a notice. You just stop hearing from them. For families…
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Continue reading →: Who Gets Paroled (and Who Gets Set Off Again and Again)Parole boards decide who gets out of prison early, but not everyone has the same chance at freedom. Data from across the United States reveal large disparities in parole approval based on race, gender, and location. For example, non-white incarcerated people have been released on parole at significantly lower rates than white…
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Continue reading →: Why Documenting Medical Issues Can Save a Life Behind Bars
Incarcerated people often struggle to get basic medical care. Missed medications. Denied appointments. Delayed surgeries. These issues are common, and in many cases, preventable. But without proof, they’re easy to dismiss. That’s why documentation matters. It protects your loved one and gives you a tool to fight back.
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Continue reading →: 5 Ways to Show Up for Your Loved One, Without Burning Yourself Out
Support takes energy. When someone you love is incarcerated, you may feel pressure to give all of yourself, all the time. But you are not their only lifeline. You are one person doing your best. Here are five ways to stay present in your relationship without running yourself into the…
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Continue reading →: How to Build a Communication Routine That Works for Both of YouMost prison relationships are built on communication. But that doesn’t mean the communication comes easily. Calls get missed. Messages are delayed. Emotions run high. Without a clear routine, even small missteps can feel personal. So the goal isn’t perfection, it’s consistency. Here’s how to build a routine that works for…
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Continue reading →: Resilient Together: Starting the New Year with Strength, Love, and Intention
A new year is dawning, and with it comes that familiar mix of emotions – especially when the person you love is behind bars. On New Year’s Eve, the world celebrates with confetti and countdowns. But for those of us separated by incarceration, the moment can feel bittersweet. You might find…
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Continue reading →: Prison Wife Prep for 2026: Practical Strategies for a More Peaceful YearThe guide offers essential strategies for partners of incarcerated individuals as they prepare for 2026. Key points include knowing the loved one’s physical and medical status, understanding the unit’s structure, keeping personal records, creating an emergency communication plan, setting boundaries, and prioritizing self-care. Ultimately, preparation fosters clarity and strength.
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Continue reading →: 10 Evidence-Based Questions to Deepen Your Prison RelationshipStrong relationships hinge on communication. Based on psychology and relationship research (like the famous 36 “closeness” questions by Aron et al.), here are ten thought-provoking, supportive questions to ask each other. Each one is designed to spark intimacy and trust even across the bars: Each question is meant to deepen understanding and empathy,…
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Continue reading →: “Still Christmas”: Holding Love Through Bars on December 25It’s Christmas morning. Outside, there are twinkling lights, cinnamon smells, and laughter echoing from living rooms. Inside, you might be listening to the buzz of fluorescent lights, the shuffle of boots on concrete, or silence broken only by distant conversation. Maybe you’re waking up alone with a letter tucked beneath…
Welcome!
This is Chapters and Chains
Welcome to Chapters and Chains – I created this site for those looking for a way to connect with a loved one who is incarcerated and who are navigating the complex correctional systems across the United States.
Find out more about us in this LWW Podcast .
Here you will find ways to connect through reading and books with your loved one, information on how to put parole packets together, resources for reintegration and helpful planning documents. All resources are and will always be free or low-cost.
However, if you would like to say “Thank you!” you can donate below or at $ChaptersNChains
You can also purchase “Beyond the Walls: A Couples Communication Guidebook” that helps fund this site and the work that we do!
Chapters and Chains 