Inside Wire Colorado Prison Radio

A pioneering public radio initiative that began broadcasting in 2021, creating original programming for incarcerated listeners across correctional facilities statewide while simultaneously reaching audiences outside prison walls throughout the United States and internationally. The station operated as a program of the University of Denver Prison Arts Initiative and distinguished itself as the first and only radio outlet in the world to broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from inside correctional institutions to the general public. Content was produced by incarcerated media producers, giving voice to perspectives rarely represented in mainstream broadcasting. Programming encompassed music, storytelling, informational content, and entertainment specifically curated for the incarcerated population. In summer 2023, a partnership with the state Department of Corrections ended abruptly, causing operations and funding to pause. The project subsequently relaunched under the name Colorado Radio for Justice, expanding its scope beyond prison broadcasting to encompass diversion programs, reentry support services, and broader criminal justice advocacy. The relaunch marked a transition from purely institutional programming toward a wider mission addressing the full arc of involvement with the justice system.