The Beat Within

In addition to their website, they publish two weekly Beats ranging from 40 to 100 pages plus an eight page Beat Monthly. The Beat Within is a publication of the writings and art from Juvenile Halls and beyond, published by Pacific News Service, a San Francisco non-profit organization. The first publication of The Beat Within came out in late September of 1996. In addition, the back pages of The Beat Within contain The Beat Without. These important contributions come from people from all over the United States, most of whom are in the system, from death row to county jail to various youth facilities, as well as some of who are now in the free world. Beat contributors are in a unique position to express themselves and realize that they are not alone; through their writings and art, they discover that they are a part of a larger community. Furthermore, their voices, through The Beat Within publication, reach, touch, and hopefully influence the lives of judges, probation officers, families, community workers, youth, and many others. The purpose is to educate themselves as well as readers inside and outside of the system, and writers are encouraged to think as teachers as they reflect on their pasts and look ahead.