WOMEN DO REENTRY DIFFERENTLY
Thi� i� a compilation of many voice� directly impacted by incarceration.
In honor of Women’� Hi�tory Month, thi� handbook will center the experience of women in reentry. A� we honor the women who have come before u� in hi�tory thi� month, let u� al�o honor the women in reentry who have paved the way for other�, by overcoming hard�hip�, giving voice to rebuilding relation�hip�, and honoring their commitment to �elf-betterment.
Veronica Varner, A��ociate Clinical Social Worker, �pent clo�e to a year here at the Anti-Recidivi�m Coalition (ARC), interning, learning, and li�tening to tho�e with lived experience. She ultimately cho�e to uplift the ARC women’� voice� in her the�i�: “The Way Society View� How Women Should Re-Enter I� Important: A Need� A��e��ment For Women In reentry In California.”
She �ucce��fully defended her the�i� to the faculty of �ocial work California State Univer�ity, Lo� Angele� and received her ma�ter’� degree, in Social Work in 2023. She now re�ide� in Northern California utilizing her degree and knowledge to help other� navigate reentry �ucce��fully.
The women member� who interviewed with Veronica, candidly �hared their po�t incarceration experience� through their per�onal len�. They thoughtfully di�cu��ed their �truggle� and achievement�, doing �o only in the hope of affecting change and education in a largely male dominated �pace.
Thi� Women’� Hi�tory Month, we proudly center the voice� of women who are directly impacted by incarceration a� the one� with the experti�e. The�e are the mother�, �i�ter�, partner�, friend� we mu�t li�ten to and learn from. The�e are the one� who
navigated through �y�tem� like pri�on�, court�, and parole, all while demon�trating re�iliency and teaching u� per�i�tence along the way. We thank them for their commitment to them�elve�, their familie� and loved one�.
We �hare thi� project of love, compa��ion, hope and community with you-- alway� paying tribute to the women who have paved the way for u�, with immen�e re�pect and gratitude.
--Norma Cumpian// Editor and Assistant Deputy Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)
March 2024
Editor: Norma Cumpian // ARC A��i�tant Deputy Director
Design Editor: Sarah Florez // ARC Senior De�ign and Communication� A��ociate
Researcher: Veronica Varner // A��oicate Clinical Social Worker
Contributor: Keeairra Da�hiell // Former ARC Women’� Department Coordinator
Contributor: Georgia Gerber // Former ARC Women’� Department Intern Summer 2023
Special thank� to Bikila Ochoa (Former ARC Deputy Director), Sam Lewi� (ARC Executive Director), and Ben Lear (ARC Director of Communication�).
Thi� handbook about reentry wa� adapted from the re�earch and re�earch paper of Veronica Varner, A��ociate Clinical Social Worker. We are �o grateful to her for uplifting formerly incarcerated women’� voice� and for all of her amazing work.
Vulnerabilitie� to Recidivi�m Women Specific Reentry Need� Re- Traumatization Comprehen�ive Mental and Phy�ical Health A��i�tance Parenting Support Gender Neutral VS Gender Re�pon�ive .............................................................1 .....................................................3 ............................................................................5 .............9 ...........................................................................11 ........................................13 TABLE OF CONTENTS
After relea�e, women are particularly vulnerable to recidivi�m (re-incarceration), partially due to being gro��ly under �erved
BARRIERS TO SUCCESSFUL REENTRY:
CHILD/FAMILY CARE RESOURCES
ABUSIVE CONDITIONS
GENERAL RESOURCES (FOOD, CLOTHES, ETC)
LIMITED JOB TRAINING RESOURCES
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
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There i� a lack of affordable and acce��ible tran�itional hou�ing for women, a� well a� limited re�ource� for job training and other vital �upport. Often, women are relea�ed into the �ame unforgiving and often abu�ive condition� that led them to pri�on, be it abu�ive relation�hip� or �urvival �ex work.
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parole requirement�
WOMEN SPECIFIC REENTRY NEEDS
Unlike men, women’� requirement� and opportunitie� for reentry are often focu�ed on mandatory mental health coun�eling and trauma work rather than tangible re�ource� (hou�ing, employment, tran�portation, etc.).
MORE TANGIBLE RESOURCES!
JOBS
TRANSPORTATION
PARENTAL SUPPORT
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Their fru�tration with thi� i� two-fold: they have already done year� of therapeutic work in�ide that doe�n’t count toward� their requirement�, and they are unable to �upport them�elve� without the nece��ary employment, hou�ing, and tran�portation a��i�tance that often i� out of their gra�p until they complete the trauma work.
Future program� �hould pay increa�ed attention to work previou�ly done by the�e women while in�ide, a� well a� real-world, phy�ical and financial concern� out�ide of and in addition to mental health. When it come� to phy�ical and mental health care, �ervice� �hould be
LESS MANDATED
THERAPY/TRAUMA WORK!
VOLUNTARY NOT MANDATED
CREDIT WORK
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RE-TRAUMATIZATION
Imagine the immen�e challenge of rebuilding your life after �erving time in pri�on. You paid your due� to �ociety, but the journey to reintegration i� far from ea�y. For formerly incarcerated women, thi� journey i� oftentime� encumbered with challenge� that trigger pa�t trauma�, which i� a proce��
Women �tep out of pri�on into a new world, but often with �imilar life �ituation�. Their experience� are hauntingly familiar: hi�torie� of victimization, �trained family relation�hip�, limited educational and job opportunitie�, financial hard�hip�, �ub�tance abu�e, and mental health di�order�.
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The cycle of adver�ity per�i�t�, and incarceration u�ually wor�en� it. While free tran�itional hou�ing i� often available for men, it i� painfully limited for women, making their journey even more challenging.
Unfortunately, in thi� uphill battle, finding a job become� a monumental ta�k due to employer�' acce�� to their criminal conviction�. Simple thing� like appropriate clothing, food, tran�portation, or childcare now become major hurdle�. Thi� �truggle i� amplified by the ri�k of pregnancy or hara��ment, making acce��ing crucial �ervice� like �ub�tance u�e �upport incredibly challenging.
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RE-TRAUMATIZATION
The reentry �tre�� hit� harde�t during the fir�t year po�t incarceration, e�pecially for tho�e with multiple arre�t�, �inking them deeper into poverty with limited education and greater unemployment. The ordeal doe� not end with them—it impact� their children and familie� too.
A �taggering 80% of women in jail� are mother�, and the �eparation di�rupt� parent-child relation�hip�, potentially cau�ing long-term developmental problem�. Sadly, the di�parity in re�ource� between men'� and women'� pri�on� wor�en� the �ituation, affecting vital parenting program� and widening the gap.
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The retraumatization of formerly incarcerated women i� a �tark reality. The�e re�ilient individual� need comprehen�ive, gender re�pon�ive �upport to break free
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COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE
Comprehen�ive mental and phy�ical health a��i�tance i� tailored unique acce�� with attention to work done in�ide. It al�o mu�t be voluntary rather than mandatory.
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“Trauma �hould not be viewed a� crippling or �omething to turn from and deny. It i� not a per�onality flaw. Trauma i� �omething that happen� that leave� an alarm �y�tem in our brain� and bodie�. We are wired to protect our�elve�.
After being in pri�on for many year�, I have found the be�t way for me to live with my pa�t i� to pay attention to any reaction� to thing� that are cau�ing me to get in my own way. Later, I’ll di�cu�� it with my therapi�t. Each week I have a li�t of thing� I reacted to out here in thi� world. The two of u� di�cu�� them, and I’m prepared for the next challenge.” --Val Kirby, ARC member who �pent over thirty year� incarcerated, on experiencing reentry
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PARENTING SUPPORT
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As was mentioned previously, women have extensive responsibilities upon their release related to care taking and parenting in particular.
Future programs should collaborate with parent and child welfare agencies to ensure women with children are receiving the full breadth of support they are entitled to and eligible for. Women re-entering society also need more female employees and mentors, peer support, and leadership opportunities.
Overall, these programs should have an increased focus on strengthening family relations and improving parenting skills.
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GENDER NEUTRAL VS
It'� important to note that although the women �urveyed �tated that �tre�� hit� harde�t during the fir�t year after incarceration, �ome women reported that upon reflection, reentry �tre�� and �tre��or� may remain for a lengthy time, and it i� important to be aware that a �en�e of normalcy may take �ome time- and will mo�t likely affect all member� of the family, a� women are often the caregiver�.
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GENDER RESPONSIVE VS
A gender neutral approach treat� men and women the �ame, but in our �ociety men and women face different hurdle� and challenge� from the patriarchy and other �y�tem�. Thi� mean� women need �ervice� that are unique from men. A gender re�pon�ive approach recognize �the difference� between men and women in culture, expo�ure to different trauma�, and unique life experience�. In practice, thi� look� like relational, trauma informed, �trength� led, and culturally relevant �ervice�.
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ARC FOR WOMEN IN REENTRY
ARC’s Mission Statement:
The Anti-Recidivi�m Coalition (ARC) work� to end ma�� incarceration in California. To en�ure our communitie� are �afe, healthy, and whole, ARC empower� formerly and currently incarcerated people to thrive by providing a �upport network, comprehen�ive reentry �ervice�, & opportunitie� to advocate for policy change.
How does ARC support women to thrive in reentry?
Women’s Department: An additional layer of �upport and re�ource� offered to every woman member. Thi� department i� dedicated to empowering women for a �ucce��ful reintegration into �ociety, with gentle guidance, information, and a��i�tance
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Member Services: Strive� to �upport the overall wellbeing of ARC member�. Thi� department a��ign� every member a life coach (ca�e manager) to �upport with the reentry journey. Member Service� organize� monthly event�, weekly �upport group�, and annual retreat�, creating a �en�e of community and facilitating networking among women with �hared experience�.
Ride Home: Offer� free, �afe, and friendly tran�portation to women returning home or to tran�itional living for no co�t to them. The Ride Home driver� are formerly incarcerated mentor� who �upport returning citizen� on how to approach and overcome ob�tacle� ahead. They offer �ervice� at both Women’� facilitie�.
Youth Programs: A Credible Mentor i� �omeone with lived experience, who return� to the in�titution� to �upport tho�e incarcerated. We continue to grow our Traditional Age Youth reentry programing with �pecific youth centered life coache� and tailored programming.
Clinical and Wellness Department: Thi� con�i�t� of �taff in LA and Sacramento
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Housing: Lorena hou�ing offer� eight bed� for women along with comprehen�ive �upportive �ervice�. The�e include on-�ite inten�ive ca�e management and �upport group�, with linkage� to ARC program� �uch a� workforce, clinical therapy, etc.
Workforce & Education: Support� women member� with Career Readine��, Digital Literacy, Financial Literacy, and the Second Chance Apprentice�hip program�. The�e proven program� �upport women to find career� and job� po�t incarceration and to �upport them to e�tabli�h family �upporting career� that �et
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Policy and Advocacy: The Policy and Advocacy Department work� to rai�e awarene�� and advocate for policy change� that addre�� unique challenge� faced by women both within and beyond the pri�on �y�tem. Thi� department ha� pa��ed too many bill� to mention. Mo�t notably i� SB 731 which
Inside Programs: Hope and Redemption Team (HART) bring� formerly incarcerated people back to pri�on to bring Hope and rehabilitative programming to our incarcerated loved one�. Our program� in�ide the Women’� pri�on� and The Cu�tody to Community Tran�itional Reentry Program have �een numerou�
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Some women at ARC reported that upon reflection, reentry �tre�� and �tre��or� may remain for a lengthy time, and it i� important to be aware that a �en�e of normalcy may take time.
The women �tated that although the �tre�� hit� harde�t in the fir�t year, it i� important to prioritize �elf care, health, and rebuilding relation�hip� a� the�e are �ome of the corner�tone� that are needed to navigate reentry while keeping their �en�e of �elf.
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To �upport our Women'� Department program� and policie�, feel free to follow @antirecidivi�mcoalition or @freeworldpodca�t on IG and vi�it our web�ite at arc-ca.org.
Thi� handbook wa� meant to uplift, li�ten to, and center formerly incarcerated women’� voice�, a� they are the expert� in their experience and the �y�tem� they lived through and were once captive in. We mu�t continue to give women with lived experience the voice, honor, and compen�ation when deci�ion� are being made about them.
We a�k of you to li�ten to tho�e who know be�t about their live�.
Thank you for reading what we have produced in honor of Women’� Hi�tory Month 2024.
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