Volume 18(1&2) is a special double issue of the Journal of Prisoners on Prisons. Edited by Mike Larsen and Justin Piche, and dedicated to the memory of Louk Hulsman, the articles examine a range of topics, including how language structures relations in prison, the incarceration of veterans in the USA, life without parole sentences for both adults and juveniles, three strikes policies and legal self-representation, the psychological impact of solitary confinement, prisoners’ families, and post-release adjustment. Running themes include reflections on the relationship between life and death in carceral settings, as well as critiques of policies that produce ‘disposable’ human beings. The issue continues with a revived Dialogues section featuring five articles discussing the scholarly merits, limitations, and ethics of prison ethnography and carceral tours. An extended Prisoners’ Struggles section includes material on a variety of resources, organizations and events of interest, including reports by the MTL Trans Support Group, the UN Special Rapporteur on Education, and Julia Sudbury of Critical Resistance. The issue closes with Book Reviews of works by Deena Rhymes, Elizabeth Comack and Loic Wacquant.