Women battle to continue fighting fires after their releases Female firefighters on the front lines of California wildfires photo by David McNew/ AFP/Getty Images Many people are surprised to learn that nearly 10 percent of the incarcerated firefighters serving at California's 44 "fire camps" are women. Just like men, the women firefighters get the same training as Cal Fire's other seasonal firefighters- one week in the classroom, another week in the field, and additional training on an ongoing basis. And, just like the incarcerated men … [Read more...] about Wall City Volume 2 Issue 2: Fighting Fire While Doing Time
Women in Prison
Tracking the healthcare of postpartum female prisoners
The U.S. has four percent of the world’s female population, but thirty percent of its female incarcerated population. Yet the first systematic investigation to collect perspective data on pregnancy frequencies and outcomes among women in U.S. prisons didn’t occur until 2016, according to Carolyn Surfin, MD, PhD; Lauren Beal, MPH; Jennifer Clarke, MD, MPH: Rachel Jones, PhD and William D. Mosher, PhD, the authors of the study. Prison pregnancy data is critical in ensuring that incarcerated women’s pregnancy –related health care needs are … [Read more...] about Tracking the healthcare of postpartum female prisoners
Prison nurseries: incarcerating newborns with their mothers
Pregnant women face heart-wrenching consequences when they are incarcerated: not only must they give birth under harsh conditions, but then, most likely, they will be forced to surrender their newborn into the hands of others. Prison nurseries offer some of these women a chance to keep their babies with them, but is that always in the child’s best interest? “Incarcerating babies may strike many as unconscionable,” child welfare advocate Naomi Schaefer Riley said recently in a National Affairs article. “We must grapple with the ethical … [Read more...] about Prison nurseries: incarcerating newborns with their mothers
Hygiene products more readily available for incarcerated woman
Department of Health seal Female hygiene products are becoming more avail- able to incarcerated women, thanks to what is called “the menstrual equality movement,” according to corrections.com. The new policy for federal prisons was adopted in 2017. It requires all federal prisons to provide free Tampons and other hygiene products to female prisoners. A bill in Congress to apply the change to all states failed, the story reported. “It’s all part of what is called the menstrual equity movement,” said Chris Tricozzi, vice president of … [Read more...] about Hygiene products more readily available for incarcerated woman
Tourists unknowingly ask women prisoners for help
Inmates, at a women’s prison in Raleigh North Carolina do an unusual job, according to an article in USA Today. They spend their days answering an 800 call line. Inmates responding to calls on the 800-VISITNC phone line will answer questions about whitewater rafting, fairs, ski slopes, festivals, Civil War sites and wineries in the state’s 100 counties. The program was created in 1980, when tourism calls were handled by state employees or an automated service. Through the program, inmates learn telemarketing skills and callers can talk … [Read more...] about Tourists unknowingly ask women prisoners for help
The cost of reputation in prison: being transgender in prison
The purpose of earning a reputation in prison is for one reason—survival. However, the cost of survival may take extreme forms. “When I first came to prison in the 80s, being a transgender meant being someone’s property. We would be used to carry weapons, for sex, to wash and clean dirty workout clothes, but, in that we were also well protected, and it gave you a sense of security,” says Jarvis “Lady J” Clark, who has been incarcerated 30 years, serving a 27-year-to-life sentence for first-degree murder. “However, the … [Read more...] about The cost of reputation in prison: being transgender in prison
Female prisoners and advocates fight against breast cancer
The fight against breast cancer found advocates and support from women prisoners and staff at the California Institution for Women (CIW). The prison raised close to $2,500 at its 2018 Avon 39 “Making Strides against Breast Cancer ” walk. The American Cancer Society (ACS) partnered with Avon 39 for the prison event. The September 30, event was sponsored by the prison’s “Lockdown for a Cure team” that consisted of the women prisoners and staff. The women prisoners showed their support by participating in an institutional food … [Read more...] about Female prisoners and advocates fight against breast cancer
CIW hosts second annual Suicide Prevention Week
Women prisoners at the California Institution for Women (CIW) were given the knowledge to promote awareness at its second annual Suicide Prevention Week. CIW prisoners enjoying the day on the yard The September event started with the inmate Suicide Prevention Outreach Committee members distributing posters and passing out program pamphlets to inform the incarcerated women of the upcoming week’s events, according to the prison’s press release. CIW prisoners dunking a staff member “The inmates played games, spoke with community … [Read more...] about CIW hosts second annual Suicide Prevention Week
A woman prisoner’s creative approach to housing
Women continue to be innovative and skillful, with creative ideas – even while in prison, according to a National Public Radio (NPR) source. Vanessa Thompson had an idea for solving Indiana’s abandoned housing problem while watching television on her bunk in one of America’s oldest facilities — Indianapolis Women’s Prison. Thompson heard Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett discuss Indiana’s 10,000 abandoned houses, a problem resulting from factory closures and the mortgage crisis. Her idea was to have newly released inmates restore the … [Read more...] about A woman prisoner’s creative approach to housing
Alice Marie Johnson advocates for others deserving clemency
After living behind bars for two decades, Alice Marie Johnson expected to continue to serve out her life sentence for a nonviolent offense in an Alabama federal prison. But, according to an article she wrote for USA Today, she was granted clemency by President Trump and is now a free woman. “I’ll tell my story, but I’ll also talk about the mercy that’s needed for others throughout the criminal justice system,” she wrote. In 1970, Alice, age 15, married a boy of 17. They had five children during the course of their marriage. Twenty years … [Read more...] about Alice Marie Johnson advocates for others deserving clemency