Lifers Group

[3] Maxwell Melvins, who was transferred to the prison in 1987 and soon became a member of the Lifers Group, noticed that the at-risk youth in the Juvenile Awareness Program, while waiting in line for their transportation, would be free-styling or singing popular rap songs.

In 1991 Richard Wormser, who wrote many books about the troubles of poverty, race, and discrimination, published Lifers: Learn the Truth at the Expense of Our Sorrow.

Salaam Ismial, president of the non-profit National United Youth Council, felt the transfer was inappropriate and planned to write a letter to the corrections department asking them "to make a decision of bringing this young man back to where he was doing good work.

In 2006 items from the personal archives of Maxwell Melvins was accessioned by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, as part of their “Hip-Hop Won’t Stop: The Beat, The Rhymes, The Life” collecting initiative.

[11][12] The work and influence of the Lifers Group and their music project has been discussed and published in governmental reports by the State of New Jersey and the House of Congress.

[13][14][15] Maxwell Melvins was released from prison in 2012 and has continued his effort to teach people about the risks of a life of drugs, crime, domestic violence, and incarceration.