Resistance Behind Bars: The Struggles of Incarcerated Women

(thanks to Lois and The Real Cost of Prisons for bringing this to my attention)

SPECIAL REPORT | CHAPTER 2 |

For female inmates, much is at stake as rape trial begins

BY JEFF SEIDEL • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • January 5, 2009

Second of five parts

The story so far

WARNING: Some of these descriptions of sexual assaults can be triggering.

SPECIAL REPORT | CHAPTER 1
Detroit Free Press

from freebatteredwomen.org

Rally for Prisoner Releases RESCHEDULED

***Friday, December 19th 2008, 8:30 AM***

Where: 450 Golden Gate Ave, San Francisco between Larkin and Polk at the Northern California District Court*

End Overcrowding and Release Eligible Prisoners Now!*

We had originally planned to have a rally outside of court on Tuesday December 16th, but found out today that court will only be in session this Thursday and Friday, the last two days of these historic hearings.

In the face of this looming economic crisis and the threat of running out of cash, does it really make sense for the State of California to spend $9.7 billion keeping 317,375 behind bars (which amounts to spending approximately $35,587 per person in prison)?

from the " Christian Science Monitor

California lawmakers just got a Henry Paulson-like ultimatum from state officials: If they don't act, the state could be forced to suspend road, bridge, and other public-works projects as early as next week.

Today the NY Appeal Court submitted the following decision regarding Venice and Patreese’s appeals:

http://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/2008/2008_09642.htm

The court reversed Venice’s conviction, but she will have to face a new trial like Renata. And unfortunately the court affirmed Patreese’s conviction and reduced her sentence from 11 years to 8 years.

As soon as we hear about Renata’s trial and Venice’s new trial we will post it here.

3 Dec 2008

Greetings friends & supporters of Free Battered Women,

I am writing with several updates, and a request to support incarcerated survivor Ms. Maureen Carroll!

*Parole Reversal*

Sadly, on November 21, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger publicly released his decision to reverse parole for Daisy Jane Benson despite the fact that the Board of Parole Hearings had found her suitable for parole. Free Battered Women joins with Ms. Benson and her supporters in grieving over the Governor's reversal. We remain committed to supporting Ms.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Dear Amici, Activists, and Allies:

We are so pleased to let you know that on November 19, 2008, after serving only one year from the date of sentencing, Theresa Lee Hernandez was released from prison.

Ms. Hernandez was arrested in 2004 and charged with first-degree murder (a crime with a potential penalty of 25 years-to-life imprisonment) and second-degree murder for having suffered a stillbirth.

Earlier this year, the Working Group to Enhance Services to Incarcerated Women in Philadelphia succeeded in getting a policy passed at the county facility banning shackling of incarcerated women in labor. This is a big first step; before the policy passed, all women in labor have been restrained. Currently, there are 36 pregnant women right now at the county facility:

Philadelphia Prison System
Procedural Directive

Stephanie Walter's essay, "Let My Voice Be Heard," (from Tenacious #11) and Yraida Guanipa's "Four Hours Home Visit" (from issue 12) have been reprinted in the latest Zine Yearbook!!

Both issues are now out of print. For those of you in NYC, Issue #11 can be found at the Barnard Zine Library.

from

Dear Friends,

I'm thrilled to let you know that another incarcerated domestic violence survivor has been released from state prison!

Many of you know Vonda White, a 69-year-old woman who has been a leader at the California Institution for Women during her nearly 30 years of incarceration.