Our women’s prisons are disproportionately populated by survivors of violence, as highlighted by the organization Survived and Punished. They note that a significant portion of both women’s and men’s prison populations have experienced domestic, sexual, homophobic, or transphobic violence throughout their lives. These survivors often find their encounters with the criminal justice system intertwined with their experiences of gender-based violence, exacerbating their trauma.
For those who have endured abuse, the criminal justice system can become yet another source of harm and mistreatment in their lives. Instead of providing the protection, empathy, and support they need, it often employs tactics reminiscent of their abusers, including aggressive character attacks, coercion, surveillance of their movements and communications, and dehumanizing practices such as shackling and invasive strip searches. Regrettably, many survivors find themselves subjected to further trauma within the system, facing verbal abuse and sexual violence at the hands of police officers or prison guards. This cycle of abuse is perpetuated by the process of criminalization, from policing through prosecution, trial, and eventual incarceration, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities such as women and girls of color, immigrants, native women, trans women, and gender non-conforming individuals.
By supporting a criminalized survivor-led book club, you are able to help empower survivors during incarceration. Purchase a copy here:
Resources
Organizations with fact sheets, organizing resources, research, toolkits, and more:
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S&P’s Defense Campaign Toolkit
Suggested reading:
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No Visible Bruises by Rachel Louise Snyder
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Decriminalizing Domestic Violence by Leigh Goodmark
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We Do This ‘Til We Free Us by Mariame Kaba
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All Our Trials by Emily L. Thuma
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Down Girl by Kate Manne
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The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
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Burning Woman by Lucy H. Pearce
Relevant news:
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No Choice But To Do It — The Appeal
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When Can a Woman Who Kills Her Abuser Claim Self-Defense? — The New Yorker
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When Abuse Victims Commit Crimes — The Atlantic
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Stop Treating Domestic Violence Differently From Other Crimes — The New York Times
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U.N. Report: 50,000 Women A Year Are Killed By Intimate Partners, Family Members — NPR
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Nearly Half of All Murdered Women Are Killed By Romantic Partners — The Atlantic
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Are Women Punished More Harshly for Killing an Intimate Partner? — The Guardian