incarceration

Virtual Community Forum on Proposed New Women's Correctional Facility 10/09/2024

From the Essex Community Justice Center:

Learn about the proposed women's correctional facility and re-entry center. Panelists include women's program providers in South Burlington correctional facility.

The Essex Community Justice Center serves as a neutral facilitator of these upcoming community events. The in-person forum is a chance for Essex community members to hear from the program providers who offer services inside the current women’s correctional facility. The virtual webinar is an opportunity to ask questions about the local impacts of the present facility, as well as the proposed re-entry center project. These events are being hosted separate from the Town of Essex Planning Commission meetings where zoning and siting decisions may be considered.

For more information visit: www.essexcjc.org

Community Forum on Proposed New Women's Correctional Facility 10/05/2024

From the Essex Community Justice Center:

Learn about the proposed women's correctional facility and re-entry center. Panelists include women's program providers in South Burlington correctional facility.

For more information visit: www.essexcjc.org

FreeHer VT No New Prison Noise Demonstration 08/12/2024

From FreeHer VT:

We are calling on community members to join us on Monday August 12 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Burlington for a noise demonstration calling on local architects to drop out of designing a new women's prison in Vermont!

In these times of suffering, the state should be extremely cautious about how they allocate community resources. Yet, there has been no indication of postponing or canceling the upcoming women’s prison project, which is currently estimated to cost over $70 million. In fact, the Department of Corrections plans to announce the site of the new women’s prison before the end of the summer! In response, FreeHer is preparing to take action so please stay tuned and be ready to plug in!

The first step we are taking is to urge the subcontractor, Freeman French Freeman, to drop the contract! FFF is the local architectural firm contracted to design the women's prison. They have been unresponsive to our communications and requests for meetings, so we are going to make some noise outside of their office in Burlington!

Join us to pressure Freeman French Freeman to DROP THE CONTRACT.

We will be protesting outside Freeman French Freeman on August 12th from 11am-1pm, the local architectural firm contracted to design the new prison, to urge them to withdraw from the project. We will have speakers, music, activities, and more. Please bring pots, pans, instruments, or any noise makers you'd like.

For more information visit: www.freehercampaign.org/vermont

Finding Hope From Within: Art Created by Incarcerated Women in Vermont 02/10/2024

From the organizer:

An invitation to hear and engage in a discussion, not a debate, on the proposed new women's prison. The beautiful and powerful artwork created by incarcerated women at C.R.C.F. displayed on the walls of the Fletcher Room inform and bear witness to this heartfelt conversation. Participants on the panel: Tiffany Harrington of Free Her and formerly incarcerated at C.R.C.F; Heather Newcomb, manager of Justice Impacted Services with Vermont Works for Women; Toni Foote, Shelter Coordinator, CVOEO; and a representative with the Vermont Department of Corrections.

Heather Newcomb from Vermont Works for Women 12/13/2023

Mary Simons and Navarro Dodge interview Heather Newcomb from Vermont Works for Women.

FreeHer VT "From Incarceration to Education" Event 11/05/2023

From the organizers, FreeHer and the Education Justice Coalition:

Join FreeHer VT and the Education Justice Coalition for a march and panel event! Vermont Corrections general fund spending increased 335% between 1985 and 2017. By comparison, total general funding spending on education increased by just 57% over the same time period (Blueprint for Smart Justice VT). At this event we be march from the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility to a school to demonstrate our commitment to moving resources. Upon gathering we hear from FreeHer on their important campaign to stop the building of a new Women's Prison in Vermont.

For more information visit: www.freehercampaign.org/vermont

Finding Hope Within Art Exhibit 10/08/2023

The Rokeby Museum showcases artwork from incarcerated individuals.

FreeHer VT Town Hall 02/06/2023

From the organizers:

Join FreeHer Vermont organizers and neighbors to learn how they're organizing to stop the construction of a new prison in Vermont, and how they plan to end the incarceration of women and girls in Vermont. They share about current campaigns and how Vermonters can get involved!

For more information visit: www.nationalcouncil.us

VICII: The Importance of Parental Contact During Incarceration 09/15/2021

Chesa Boudin is an American lawyer who is currently the District Attorney of San Francisco where he was elected in 2020. Mr. Boudin's parents are David Gilbert and Kathy Boudin and Bernadine Dohrn and Bill Ayers.

In October, 1981, Mr. Gilbert and Ms. Boudin participated in the robbery of a Brinks armoured car with members of the Black Liberation Army during which two NYC police officers and a Brinks guard were killed.

Mr. Gilbert and Ms. Boudin were convicted of these crimes. Both were sentenced to jail terms with Mr. Gilbert sentenced to 75 years to life in New York prisons where he remains. Ms. Boudin has been released.

At the time of the incarceration of his birth parents, Chesa Boudin was 18 months old. He was brought up by his adoptive parents Bernadine Dohrn and Bill Ayers.

Women's March Vermont: Panel on Prison Reform at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility 03/20/2019

From the Press Release:

The women in Chittenden Regional Corrections Facility (CRCF) in South Burlington, the state’s only prison for women, are housed in deplorable conditions. Despite high incidences of substance abuse disorder, mental health issues, and past sexual abuse, these women are denied basic services, treatment, and supports. Now CRCF is under increasing public scrutiny after a guard was arrested for sexual assault of a former inmate and the Department of Corrections blocked journalists from gaining access to records on the conditions and treatment of the women in CRCF.

Hear directly from formerly incarcerated women about their experience with poor conditions, inhumane treatment, and challenges they faced at CRCF when trying to access critical services, such as medical care. The conversation also features a representative from VT Digger, as well as advocates working for alternatives to incarceration and better outcomes for women and trans people entangled in the criminal legal system.

The event is sponsored by the ACLU’s Smart Justice Campaign (www.acluvt.org) and Women’s March Vermont (womensmarchvermont.com).