Dear John xxxxxx, 

In Los Angeles two nights ago, I had the honor of speaking alongside ARC members April Grayson, Sara Wilshinsky, and Stacy Rojas on a panel of formerly incarcerated women and gender non-conforming (GNC) people for the first Select Committee on Incarcerated Women, facilitated by Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove. Criminal justice spaces are overwhelmingly focused on men, and fail to address the unique needs of system-impacted women and GNC folks. Through their powerful testimonies the women on this panel shared what some of those needs are, and why it’s important that they are met. 

More women than men report having experienced physical and sexual abuse and because of those factors, have different types of trauma and a need to feel physically and emotionally safe from being re-traumatized by the system. Correctional staff should be trained to recognize signs of trauma, and emotional support services should be readily accessible. 

Successful rehabilitation and reentry for women is dependent, in part, on strong family and community ties. In my case, being transferred to CIW so that I could be close to my son saved my life and his. Many women do not have this opportunity, however. We need to prioritize keeping families together at every step of the criminal justice process. Phone calls, visits, and legal custody issues are critically important. A lack of these supports causes an excessive amount of stress in already difficult situations.

The women on this panel are strong community leaders, but many of our peers and friends have struggled to find their footing in a world that seems to care very little about them. Our women need support as they are reentering society and deserve fair opportunities to thrive in the outside world.

Finally, women—and all incarcerated people—need to be treated as human beings. One ARC member on this panel, Rojas, remembered receiving a write up for getting a sunburn: it was considered “damaging state property.” Another commented on how the system seems like it’s trying to take away women’s humanity at every opportunity. 

These are just a few of the issues that were raised at the hearing. Women are currently the fastest growing population in prison and it’s absolutely vital that the voices of women with direct experience are heard, so that we can begin to move towards a more rehabilitative and humane system. This fact is part of the reason why ARC established a Women's and Non-Binary Services Department in 2018, which I am proud to lead. Thank you to Assemblymember Kamlager-Dove and Beit T'Shuvah in Culver City for hosting this important event, to the women and GNC folks who sat next to me on that platform and system-impacted women inside facilities and out who are working to find their voices.
 

Sincerely, 

Norma Cumpian
Manager, Women's and Non-Binary Services