iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Continue reading on Prison Life Unlocked. New work published monthly. prisonlifeunlocked.substack.com/p/another-da...

prisonlifeunlocked.substack.com

Another Day In Paradise: Still Life of a Prison Experience

3:50 a.m.

010

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

"When they eliminated deep fryers in 2009, under the guise of serving healthier food, they eliminated most real meat, too: flounder, liver, roast beef, and sliced turkey." prisonlifeunlocked.substack.com

110

Reposted by Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II

a Me @amejx.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

"My friends never mentioned the incident. My family didn't either. No one wanted to remember. Not even me. But carrying on as if it had never happened didn't help me. My bruises healed. I didn't." 💔

011

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

"I stared into sizzling heat waves dancing up from the smoldering black top. When he beat me, his brutality had been just as merciless. When I laid in bed remembering, I never thought of his fists, only my warm piss dripping down my legs in front of my friends."

110

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

"I recognized Mr. James, Jessica's father—who once served me hot dogs on the Fourth of July—just as his fist slammed into my face over and over again."

110

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

In his memoir, Phillip takes us into a prison's creative writing class to show why writing about one's pain is essential to healing with this harrowing creative nonfiction tale depicting how he survived racial brutality as a young man in the south. open.substack.com/pub/narrativ...

open.substack.com

Playing ‘The Story Game’ in Prison

When a friend asked me to sub for his writing class in the prison where we’re both incarcerated, I was hesitant. But sharing the story that had haunted me since childhood finally set me free.

120

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Phill describes how a misdiagnosis by med staff led to a scabies outbreak. As a result, he witnessed increased vīolence amongst prisoners, caused by an epidemic that could've been stopped if med staff had listened to complaints of the incarcerated. prisonlifeunlocked.substack.com/p/what-its-l...

prisonlifeunlocked.substack.com

What It’s Like to Have Scabies in Prison

I have scabies.

110

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

...I wouldn't have been able to finish school if not for Kat Bodrie, who served as my benefactor, paying for my tuition & books. She struggled with me when arguing to get info from the school & fighting the prison. I owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude. Without her, I wouldn't have finished.”

020

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Phill writes, “It was a major accomplishment, simply because NC prisons refuse to allow people serving sentences longer than 10 years to participate in higher ed programs unless it's the prison seminary....

120

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Congratulations to Phill, who just earned his Associate of Arts degree from Adam's State University! He earned this degree through correspondence: no internet, no lectures, no modern technology: nothing but written texts sent through the mail, all while imprisoned in a cage. A huge victory!

A Black man wearing a grey t-shirt, holding an Associate Degree diploma from Adams State University. The words "Work Hard" are written against the light grey background.

120

Reposted by Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II

Michael Barajas @michaelbarajas.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Here's @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social, a journalist incarcerated in North Carolina, talking about his recent story in @boltsmag.org about three-strikes laws—featuring the voices of a man serving life, and the victim he shot who’s been pushing for his release full story boltsmag.org/north-caroli...

16029

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Bolts has given me the opportunity to write real journalism in a way that no other publication has. I'm grateful for the opportunity to bring these stories to light in hopes of prompting change. - PVS2

020

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Thank you for supporting my work and Ramulus Mason's effort to make it home to his family, Jacob. I truly appreciate you. - PVS2

030

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Thank you for supporting this story. Ramulus Mason should be home. I truly appreciate you. - PVS2

011

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Thank you for supporting Ramulus Mason's effort to make it home to his family, because he should be home. I truly appreciate you. - PVS2

020

Reposted by Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II

Bolts @boltsmag.org · 24/07/2026

Ramulus Mason was sentenced to life in prison without parole under North Carolina’s three-strikes law 30 years ago. “I was the first person to get life under that new law,” he says. “Some people may not want me out, just to prove a point.”

boltsmag.org

In North Carolina, a Shooting Victim Pleads for His Shooter’s Release After 30 Years - Bolts

Ramulus Mason was sentenced to life without parole due to North Carolina’s three-strikes law. The man he shot insists that he shouldn’t still be in prison.

02510

Reposted by Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II

Michael Barajas @michaelbarajas.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

we've been lucky enough to work w/ @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social for a couple years, and I think he's truly doing some of the best reporting and writing behind bars right now. follow and read his other work boltsmag.org/north-caroli... boltsmag.org/north-caroli... boltsmag.org/north-caroli...

boltsmag.org

In North Carolina, Juvenile Lifers See a Pathway to Freedom - Bolts

After North Carolina's previous governor granted clemency to people sentenced to life in prison as minors, others with juvenile life sentences are hoping for a new administration that also believes in...

14419

Reposted by Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II

Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

NEW: North Carolina’s harsh three strikes law was adopted right before Ramulus Mason was sentenced in the 1990s, so was sentenced to life in prison. Now the man he shot decades ago has become his loud advocate, demanding that the state free him. A fascinating and complex story:

boltsmag.org

In North Carolina, a Shooting Victim Pleads for His Shooter’s Release After 30 Years - Bolts

Ramulus Mason was sentenced to life without parole due to North Carolina’s three-strikes law. The man he shot insists that he shouldn’t still be in prison.

1480172

Reposted by Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II

Bolts @boltsmag.org · 23/07/2026

NEW in Bolts: Ramulus Mason was sentenced to life without parole due to North Carolina’s three-strikes law. The man he shot insists that he shouldn’t still be in prison. By @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social:

boltsmag.org

In North Carolina, a Shooting Victim Pleads for His Shooter’s Release After 30 Years - Bolts

Ramulus Mason was sentenced to life without parole due to North Carolina’s three-strikes law. The man he shot insists that he shouldn’t still be in prison.

13911

Reposted by Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II

jacob biba @jacobbiba.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

“The man has done 30 years. Shit. What else do they want? If I can forgive him, why can’t everybody else? I’m the one he shot.” boltsmag.org/north-caroli...

boltsmag.org

In North Carolina, a Shooting Victim Pleads for His Shooter’s Release After 30 Years - Bolts

Ramulus Mason was sentenced to life without parole due to North Carolina’s three-strikes law. The man he shot insists that he shouldn’t still be in prison.

131091

Reposted by Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II

Michael Barajas @michaelbarajas.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

The latest from @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social, a phenomenal journalist incarcerated in North Carolina, is this striking piece about three-strikes laws, how they condemned someone to prison for life, and the man he shot who's trying to get him out "If I can forgive him, why can’t everybody else?"

boltsmag.org

In North Carolina, a Shooting Victim Pleads for His Shooter’s Release After 30 Years - Bolts

Ramulus Mason was sentenced to life without parole due to North Carolina’s three-strikes law. The man he shot insists that he shouldn’t still be in prison.

09534

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

"Let him go," [Ricky] Wilson told me. "The man has done 30 years. $#!@. What else do they want? If I can forgive him, why can't everybody else? I'm the one he shot." 2/3

120

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

In 1995, Ramulus Mason became the first person sentenced to life without parole under #NorthCarolina 3-strikes law, even though he had only shot a man in the arm. Read Phillip's latest Bolts piece to find out how he unravels the tangled web that has a man unfairly trapped in prison for life. 1/3

162

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Phill's memoir, "A Weekend in the Hills," has now been published in the anthology, Harm and Punishment: Incarcerated Writers on Violence and the US Prison, from @haymarketbooks.org www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2763-h...

haymarketbooks.org

Harm and Punishment

010

Works by Phillip Vance Smith, II @phillipvancesmith2.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Phill published his first memoir, “A Weekend in the Hills” with the American Prison Writing Archive in 2018 when he was just starting his writing career while incarcerated at Nash Correctional. 1/ prisonwitness.org/apwa-essay/a...

prisonwitness.org

A weekend in the hills - American Prison Writing Archive

110