The Echo
The Echo is the official newsletter of the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution created and produced by incarcerated people. It's mission is to serve the incarcerated community by providing monthly news and other important information, while highlighting the human experience in the carceral setting.
2026 Print Issues
Past Print Issues
2025
2024
Staff members
Phillip Luna, Editor-in-Chief
Phillip Luna is an incarcerated journalist in Oregon. He is the editor-in-chief of The Echo, a prison newsletter, and 1664, a magazine published in several Oregon prisons. Outside of prison publications, his work has been published with the East Oregonian, Portland Mercury, Inside News, PonyXpress, and with the Prison Journalism Project. In 2025, he was a finalist for an American Penal Press Award in op-ed and a Stillwater Award in feature writing. In the 2026 Stillwater Awards, he earned third place in the prison journalist of the year category and a first place nod for best reported essay. While incarcerated he has earned an Associate of the Arts degree and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s in English. Additionally, Luna is serving as an inaugural member of the steering committee for the Prison Press Association. Luna has been incarcerated since 2015. He is of Hispanic and white descent and is originally from the Oakland area.
Kurtis Thompson, Associate Editor
Kurtis Thompson is an incarcerated journalist at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution. He is the associate editor for The Echo, his institution’s newsletter, and the prison-published magazine 1664. Since August 2024, Kurtis moved up from correspondent to staff writer and, in 2025, associate editor after co-earning third place in the American Penal Press Awards for best feature story. He was also a semifinalist in the National Systems-Impacted Writers’ Contest through University of Southern California. Writing aside, he is a Christian, has two beautiful children and appreciates Japanese culture.
Christopher Ainsworth, Staff Writer
Chris Ainsworth works as an incarcerated journalist and photographer from a facility in eastern Oregon. He was born in Portland, Oregon in 1982 to Italian and Scandinavian parents. Before prison he started a photography business. In May 2025, Ainsworth coauthored a piece with a local reporter that became a front-page article for East Oregonian, a local newspaper. Additionally, he has had numerous poetic works published by PonyXpress.
Brian Daniel Bement, Correspondent
Brian Daniel Bement is a journalist for The Echo and 1664 at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution. He has been a correspondent since May 2025. Bement was born and raised as a Native American in West Chicago, Illinois. He has participated in improv workshops, performed at Improv Olympic and Second City Chicago.
Carston Quinn, Correspondent
Carston Quinn writes as an incarcerated journalist at an eastern Oregon facility for The Echo, the prison’s newsletter, and 1664, a quarterly magazine. Carston was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He received a bachelor’s degree in English from Portland State University. Before he was incarcerated, he was an avid hiker andworked as a professional editor for over a decade.
Alex Dewhurst, Correspondent
Alex Dewhurst is an incarcerated journalist in Oregon. He is a correspondent for publications 1664 and The Echo, a magazine and prison newsletter. Outside of prison, his work has been published with the Prison Journalism Project. Alex has been incarcerated since 2025. Prior to his incarceration he was a college student who studied business administration. He is originally from the Portland area.
Logan Gimbel, Design & Layout
Logan Gimbel is an incarcerated writer in Oregon. He writes for The Echo, a prison newsletter, and 1664, a magazine published in several Oregon prisons. He is responsible for design and layout of The Echo. He was also recently published with East Oregonian, a newspaper in Oregon. Gimbel has been incarcerated since 2021. Previously he served in the U.S. Air Force from 2012 to 2018 and was honorably discharged. He is white and Native American and is originally from the Vancouver area.