The Prison Show

The Prison Show is a news program and radio call-in show created by Ray Hill to serve prison inmates and formerly incarcerated persons. It reaches approximately one-sixth of inmates in Texas,[1] and in 2012 reached 14 of the 111 prisons in the state.[2]

The Prison Show
GenrePhone-in (radio), current affairs
Running time120 minutes (Fridays)
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
Home stationKPFT
Hosted byRay Hill (activist) (founder)
Recording studioTexas
Original release1980 (1980) – present
Websitekpft.org/programming/newstalk/prison-show/

History

The Prison Show was started on KPFT by Ray Hill in 1980, while Hill was General Manager of the Pacifica-run station.[3] He hosted the show for its first 20 years.[3] Hill began The Prison Show after realizing that it was not possible for inmates to make phone calls from prison. One of the founder's main goals, as a formerly incarcerated person himself, was to increase support systems for inmates.[4] The show is completely volunteer run.[1]

Programming

The Prison Show features conversation about the prison system, the justice system, and bail.[5] Guests have included attorneys, persons who work in the criminal justice system, substance abuse counselors, and more.[6] Music segments include live performances by formerly incarcerated persons.[4] The show also includes a call-in hour that allows family members to speak on air to incarcerated loved ones.[7] This serves the station's main goal: connecting incarcerated persons with friends and family outside prison.[8] Many proxy weddings are also performed on the show.[1][2] Formerly incarcerated persons speak of the deep impact of being able to listen to the show while in prison.[7] The show also works towards changing popular perception of prisons and incarceration.[9]

The show traditionally started with Ray Hill saying, "Holler down the pipe, chase and rattle them bars, ’cause we’re gonna do a Prison Show.”[6][8]

After Hill stepped down from 20 years of hosting the show, the hosting role was taken over by Anthony Graves and Kathy Griffin.[10]

Advocacy

Advocacy work by The Prison Show was instrumental in changing Texas's policy on installing prison payphones. Texas was the last state to provide a way for inmates to make phone calls; it allowed this to happen in 2007.[11][12] The show has also provided an opportunity to draw awareness to issues around medical care within prisons, or lack of basic necessities like air conditioning.[2]

See also

References
  1. Heinrich, Holly (2012-03-15). "'The Prison Show' Connects Texas Inmates on the Radio". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  2. "'The Prison Show' Helps Texas Inmates Find Escape". NPR.org. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  3. "Remembering KPFT's Ray Hill, Pioneering "Prison Show" Host and LGBT Activist in Houston". Democracy Now!. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  4. "Houston Radio Show Connects Texas Inmates to Life Beyond Prison". NationSwell. 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  5. Show, The Prison. "The Prison Show Online Radio by The Prison Show". BlogTalkRadio. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  6. "Jailhouse Talk". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  7. Word, Shiver the (2016-06-29). "Activist and Ex-Con Founder Of The Prison Show Talks Doing Time, Crime, and The Art of Radio". christopherflakus. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  8. "The Texas Prison Show: Incarcerated Discourse and Revolutionary Activism". HMB. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  9. Robinson, Jack (2012-06-06). "What To Expect When You Are An Inmate In A Texas Prison". Jack Robinson. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  10. Holley, Joe (2012-08-18). "KPFT's 'Prison Show' gets 'perfect' new host". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
  11. "Art at Noon | Ray Hill and David Collingsworth of KPFT's The Prison Show". Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  12. Smith, Harrison (2 December 2018). "Ray Hill, 'citizen provocateur' who fought for gay rights and prison reform, dies at 78". Washington Post. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
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