Mothers In Prison Losing All Parental Rights

April 23, 2012

How would you feel if you were sentenced for a minimum 15 months later finding out that you'll be losing your parental right once you're released?  Studies show that more women are being incarcerated with the majority being drug related activities.  I was browsing the web and came across and article by Ann Farmer called "Mothers in Prison Losing All Parental Rights".  The lady in this article had also went to jail due to drug related activities and had lost her parental rights.  This was after the law was passed in 1997 where it states that a parent sentenced to more that 15 months will result in the children being automatically sent to foster care.  The article states how there's an estimated 200,000 children with incarcerated mothers and 1.6 of them have a father in prison. 

This is a very interesting article.  This is the perfect example of where there are many justice groups for incarcerated parents in action. 

What do you think?

Tanai K.

Farmer, Ann."Mothers In Prison Losing All Parental Rights".http://womensenews.org/story/incarceration/020621/mothers-prison-losing-all-parental-rights.web.June 21, 2002.

Children of Incarcerated Parents

April 23, 2012

I found a fact sheet about the children of incarcerated parents.  I found it very interesting due to the fact that it's something that's often overlooked.  It was interesting to know that from the 1995 to 2005, the percentage of incarcerated mothers increased 57% compared to incarcerated fathers.  Also, the average age of the children who have incarcerated parents is 8.  Reading this makes me think about what I would have done if I was 8 years old with an incarcerated parent.  But then again, most times 8 year old probably wouldn't even be able to fully understand.

The fact sheet then begins to discuss things that often happen to children with incarcerated parents.  Some things include, shame, behavioral problems in school or public, and most important, instability with family relationships.  Reading this sections make me think about my nephew.  His mother is incarcerated and is serving 10 years.  Instead of him telling people where his mother is, he tells everyone that he doesn't have a mother.

I believe parents being incarcerated while a child is young leaves  a big impact on the child's life.  Often time, people assume that children aren't old enough to understand what's going on, but in actuality children notice everything.




Tanai K.

"Children of Incarcerated Parents Fact Sheet". http://211.idaho.gov/pdf/COIP_Factsheet.pdf. web.

LOCK UP LOVE

The above video is an interview with an inmate, that admits "there is no shame in his game", when it comes to his homosexual love life in prision. It has been said that some male inmates immediatly look to either become "the man" or "the bitch" while doing their time. I recently watched an eposide of "Lock Up Raw" where they interviewed a man who came in jail hetrosexual and plans on leaving hetrosexual, despite his homosexual activity done while incarcerated. His "bitch" admits that (s)he knows that the relation is strickly for sexual favors but does not mind because "my man protects, as long as im with him, I'm not worried about anyone else". This is typical in jails, those labeled as the underdogs look for a masculine man on the inside to protect them, then go on about there lifes when released. Does this make a person homosexual or are they just striving for survival? Should a person reveal this information to family memeber, one being released?
These questions always are raised so what would you do guys? Ladies,would you want to know the father of you kids engaged in these ativities?

Ciara Marable-

Transgenders in Prison

There are 315 transgender females incarcerated in a mens prison. This article talks about the injust of these transgenders being put into men's prrisons because of the assaullt and rape that these indiviuals face. This case was brought to the U.S Supreme Court a decade ago because these indiviuals rights were being taken awy going through that some believe that they were going through "Cruel and Unusual Punishment". In 2008 this made a affect in New York youth detention facility transgenders were allowed to choose what uniform they preffered, what name they would like to be called, and if they need specialized housing. In 2009 California, State D-13 District introduced a bill called the LGBT Prisoner Act that if adopted would allow inmates to add their selfs to a self reported saftey list and able to be at some risk factors.


Lori Sexton^*, Valerie Jenness & Jennifer Macy Sumner "Where the Margins Meet: A Demographic Assessment of Transgender Inmates in Men’s Prisons" Justice Quaterly.30 Nov 2009.Website. 23 Apr 2012

-Shyenne Anthony

Juveniles in Prison

What would it take to put a juvenile in prison? Would they have to commit the same crime more than once or will it depend on the seriousness of the crime? What if this child had a mental disorder, then what? This article refers to why some children should or should not be put into a adult prison. In this article some people mentioned that they believe that some juveniles should be put into adult facilities because violent offenders "cope" better with other violent offenders. Others believe that they shouldn't because juvenile detetions and boot camps can be a rehab for this children if they have made a mistake or if these children face mental issues. This descision ca,e to thought when a 16 year-old was convicted of first-degree murder and was giving life in prison without parole. Some felt that he was to young to be engaged into a prison that young. Others felt that he commited the crime of adult and should face the time.

Burke, Kimberly, student author. "All Grown Up: Juveniles Incarcerated In Adult Facilities." Journal Of Juvenile Law 25.(2005): 69-78. OmniFile Full Text Select (H.W. Wilson). Web. 23 Apr. 2012.

-Shyenne Anthony

Women's Prison Association (WPA)

Women's Prison Association (WPA) is a New York State incorporated non-profit agency which is funded by both public and private sources. This organization was founded in 1845 and still is in full affect.This service and advocay is for helping women that have had a criminal justice history. This association provides assistance to approximately 2,500 women and their families each year. These women in this program also develop skills such as: living skills, self empowerment, peer support, and community involvement. These women are helped because this association believes that these women that have been incarcerated are not primarily judged off of their criminal history. This organization holds events to also help fund their association such as dinners, stand-up comedian shows, and honoring women that are apart of the program.

Who WPA Serves

Women's Prison Association serves about 200 women and their family each year with the majority being those that reside in New York.  WPA is elated to help those that haven't graduated high school, women of color that were arrested for drugs, and those that have been unemployed for a long period of time and need to return to the work force.  The people that are willing to help those in need have gone through the same things as the people they're helping are going through.  This aspect of the organization stands out because they know what it's like to be at what may feel like the bottom.  WPA is a proud representative of more than 5,000 women in New York county jails and prisons.  Because they've been in most of these women situations previously, WPA understands how stressful it is to be sucessful when you've had a discouraging past, which is why helping and encouraging the community to take a better step is their iniative.

WPA Continued...

 Our group chose to explore the WPA ( Women's Prison Association). Posted in a early post is the organizations back ground and goals. Above is an image of 44 year old Cheryl and daughter. Cheryl is a success story straight from WPA. She currently has her life on track and has made tremendous turn around. Her story starts in the 1990's, where she struggled with a drug addition and a criminal record, mainly fraud and drugs. She lost custody of her daughter Lori, who was still a infant at the time of her mother's "troubled past". Due to her record fighting back for Lori once moving into one of WPA's homes, was a went from a fight to a war, a war Cheryl was ready to fight and gain victory. She resided in a Hunnigton House where, she was given a case manager to help her in times of "close-relapse", and eventually was awarded custody of Lori, the two eventually moved from the Hunnington Houseand moved in to an apartment. Cheryl gives credit where credit is due, saying the WPA is the reason she is the success story she is today, but she goes on to admit she wishes there were more stories like hers that ended on a positive note..

I feel as if Cheryl's story like many others, should be looked at as positive sucess. It take a lot of courage to admit a problem and even more courage to want to get rid of your problem. It shows strength and commitment to yourself, family, friends, and those who have helped you make it through you situation. A mother being incarcerated affects not only her self but also her child. It makes it harder to raise children, continue a normal lifestyle, and even effects a woman's romance live. I applaud Cheryl and every story like hers for the courage shown by making it through a stormy path.

-Ciara Marable

How You Can Help

Make a Donation

There are several different options to choose from when donating to the WPA. Tickets to a WPA benefit dinner or after part can be purchased. You can also donate money at a value of your choosing. You can donate as a company or as an individual. You also have the option to do a recurring donation or just a one-time donation. Another option the WPA gives is to donate stock.

Volunteer at WPA

Volunteer opportunities vary from long-term projects like tutoring or working with the women mentoring program, to helping with one-day events. There is further information regarding volunteer opportunities at http://www.wpaonline.org/help/volunteer.htm.

Work for WPA

WPA offers competitive compensation and benefit programs for their employees. They look to hire and develop qualified personnel and highly motivated individuals. Some of the current job listings include: pathway advocate, transitional planner, and resident monitor.

Women's Prison Association. 2004.  110 Second Ave. New York NY 10003 646-336-6100.

23.Apr 2012

-Group Collaboration

Music Therapy Helps Incarcerated Victims of Abuse

Twenty-five women participated in a study that incorporated music into psycho-therapy for incarcerated victims of abuse. The study showed that the involvement of gender-sensitive music helped the women cope with the trauma they had experienced.

http://ir.uiowa.edu/icru/SURF2011/NaturalSciences/33/

Emily Sate