By Stav Keshet
On Monday, Jan 30, 2023, Families for Justice as Healing (FJAH) and The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls hosted a virtual relaunch for the Prison Moratorium campaign, with a packed crowd of over 200 attendees.
Last year, with a coalition of organizers, they were able to pass the Prison Moratorium bill, which would enact a five-year pause on prison and jail construction, through the Legislature; however, it was vetoed by former Governor Charlie Baker. But the fight isn’t over. The need to pass a prison moratorium is particularly urgent because of ongoing plans to build a new women’s prison in the Commonwealth—plans which are proceeding under the new administration of Governor Maura Healey.
The event, moderated by FJAH Executive Director Mallory Hanora, began with remarks from Andrea James, the Founder and Executive director of the National Council of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls and the Founder of Families for Justice as Healing. James powerfully argued that prisons do not allow one to take individual accountability for their actions, and instead merely continue a cycle of harm. She highlighted the concept of “community accountability”—stating that, as a society, we have a responsibility to prevent such continuous harm by investing in communities rather than pursuing criminalization. Highlighting that alternative models already exist, she asked the attendees: “It’s not just about stopping a prison– it’s about…Where is the funding? If you got 50 million plus another 25 to invest in prisons in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and we have worked for more than 12 years to develop models—that we have used our resources at FJAH and the National Council to create models of what different looks like—where is that funding?”
After James came two speakers from Jane Doe Inc., the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. Hema Sarang Sieminski and Nithya Badrinath, Policy Director and Policy Manager, respectively, highlighted how over 90% of incarcerated women experienced sexual abuse or domestic violence before their incarceration, arguing that “the conditions and culture of power and control in prisons, jails, and detention centers are a mirror of the violence that so many survivors experience in the interpersonal context.” Whereas many legislators will point to survivors as a reason to expand criminalization, Jane Doe Inc. believes that carceral systems will not provide the safety and healing that survivors need and do not provide any form of accountability for harm done to them; therefore, they oppose any policy that will increase criminal penalties in the name of increasing accountability or promoting survivor safety.
The next speaker was Ms. Angelia Jefferson, a community member of Families for Justice as Healing and the National Council. Known as “Ms. Angie,” she is a mother, a grandmother, and a formerly incarcerated woman who served over 31 years at MCI-Framingham. She stated that “instead of using that money to build a prison, [she] can’t say it enough–mental health and medical needs to be at the forefront of this.” She spoke of the need to invest in community resources, and especially provide more accessible mental health services and trauma support, instead of defaulting to criminalization. Next spoke the lead sponsors of the bill, Representative Chynah Tyler of Roxbury and Senator Jo Comerford of Northampton. They both discussed their commitment to passing the prison moratorium bill and to pushing a broader narrative that prioritizes investment in community well-being rather than punitive measures.
Some might ask, what does different look like? Sashi James, the Director of Reimagining Communities for Families for Justice as Healing and the National Council, has an answer. While organizers are working to stop the building of a new women’s prison, James is building the future of a non-carceral world, implemented through the vision of “Reimagining Communities”. Most of this work is done in Roxbury by creating programs to support community members. James discussed some of them, including a guaranteed income program for currently and formerly incarcerated women, a basic housing program, a hydroponic farm, and more.
Lastly, the event ended with Rabbi Leora Abelson, the Rabbi of the Nehar Shalom Synagogue in Jamaica Plain and a member of T’ruah, a national organization of Jewish Clergy organizing for human rights. Leora discussed faith and spirituality in connection to social justice, stating that she perceives organizing as sacred work. Participants had the opportunity to think of a moment when they felt free, and Rabbi Abelson powerfully stated that “we live in a world whose structures and systems do not reflect what we know within us about freedom, and dignity, and worth. But we are building that world. And what we know inside of us is guiding us. Guiding us to know that we do not need any more prisons. That we don’t need any prisons. And to know what we do need.” She ended the reflection with a call for action, where participants had the opportunity to support the prison moratorium bill by signing up for an upcoming rally, call the governor’s office, and call their legislators.
If you weren’t able to join the event, you can watch the recording of the event here: https://youtu.be/GobJ-4UmmM8
Want to support the prison moratorium bill? You can with these quick steps!
- Sign up to join FJAH and the National Council at the State House for a Day of Action on February 9 from 3-6pm.
- Call Governor Healey and tell her NO NEW WOMEN’S PRISON
Now is the time to let Governor Healey know that people across MA want a 5 year pause on jail and prison construction and expansion. Call and fill up the voicemail box: bit.ly/massmoratoriumguide - Call your State Rep and Senator and ask them to co-sponsor the Prison Moratorium bit.ly/massmoratoriumguide
- Sign up for a phone bank or canvass!
Volunteer to phone bank or canvass with members of FJAH and the National Council, and support their efforts to stop the new women’s prison and pass the prison moratorium! Sign up for a shift here: bit.ly/nonewprisonvolunteer