Over 90% report histories of sexual and/or domestic violence, and most suffer from substance abuse disorders and mental illness.

Incarcerated women rarely hold space in our personal or professional lives, but they have much to teach us. Unlike Piper Kerman of Orange is the New Black, their crimes are not glamorous; unlike CSI, they are rarely violent. Most women offenders are reincarcerated multiple times with brief sentences for sex work, drug involvement, and petty financial crimes. Prearrest income is disproportionately low; many have experienced homelessness. Over 90% report histories of sexual and/or domestic violence, and most suffer from substance abuse disorders and mental illness. Black women are three times more likely to be incarcerated than other women, and the gender x race/ethnicity intersection has particularly devastating consequences before, during and after incarceration. To understand their lives, and to help them change, we must appreciate and address the impacts of poverty, violence, sexism and racism, best viewed through the lens of Betrayal Trauma.

We must acknowledge the impact of Institutional Betrayal. Prisons and jails are the ultimate institution, heavily fortified with razor wire that guarantees separation from the rest of society. Inmates are stripped of rights and mostly controlled through punishment, which is particularly severe for those acting out from mental disorders. Abuse by staff can be rampant, from sexual harassment to violent assault, with little hope of resistance or recourse. Until 2017, even basic hygiene such as menstrual products or toilet paper could be subject to arbitrary withholding or exchanged for favors, including sexual acts.

Even in this seemingly hopeless setting, Institutional Courage can make a difference. Our research team learned this from Roberta Richman, a feminist artist who in the 1990s rose from Educator to Warden of the Women’s Facilities in the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. Over significant resistance, she introduced gender-appropriate, trauma-informed programs to address domestic violence, parenting, and substance abuse, as well as pre-release planning. She recruited mentors and program coordinators from “outside,” providing connections to the community and to the future. Fortunately, she also welcomed our team of faculty and students from the University of Rhode Island to evaluate them.

Warden Richman also courageously lobbied for RI Gen L § 11-25-24 (1995), making a felony any sexual contact by a RIDOC employee with an inmate. [In 2003, the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act addressed this issue (42 U.S.C. § 15602), although institutional practices limit its effectiveness.]

Based on our observations, here are some ways you can shine spotlights on incarcerated women in your community:

• If you teach or speak to groups, include information on incarcerated women whenever you can.

• Volunteer as a mentor or tutor, and recruit others to as well.

• Advocate for community-based alternatives such as sober houses.

• If you are a mental health professional, offer prison staff in-service training on gender-appropriate and trauma-informed treatment.

• Invite prison staff, researchers, and reform activists to speak to your clubs, professional groups, or classes.

If you work in a college or university, you could also:

• Teach through college programs located within local prisons.

• Create graduate training opportunities through placements and practicum courses.

• Engage in evaluation projects to identify and promote best practices.

Warden Richman claimed that any outsider who came into the prison would be forever changed for the good. She was right. Even in prison, our participants found new courage to strive for a better life for themselves and their children. Every incarcerated woman deserves Institutional Courage like hers.

Please feel free to contact me for more information.