Prison Reform

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

No New Prisons - Reimagining Communities Through Collective Organizing 03/26/2024

From the Will Miller Social Justice Lecture Series:

In the US there are approximately 250,000 women in jails or prisons on any given day. Join us for a special panel discussion of what it would look like to shift investment away from incarceration and into true public safety, transformation, and healing.

Speakers include Andrea James, Sashi James, Mallory Hanora, and Jayna Ahsaf.

For more information visit: https://www.willmiller.org/

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

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

WILPF Conversation with Prison Reform Activists from Vermont and Beyond 08/08/2022

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom holds a special session on ending mass incarceration and the death penalty with a focus on prison reform in Vermont.

More info: wilpf.org

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).

Education and Enrichment for Everyone: Prison Reform 03/01/2019

T.J. Donovan, Vermont Attorney General

Part of the Education and Enrichment for Everyone series in South Burlington, Vermont. For more information visit EEEVermont.org.

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Applications Now Open for the Spring 2025 Cohort of the Neighborhood Community Media Internship Program

Town Meeting TV is excited to announce that applications are now open for the Spring 2025 cohort of the Neighborhood Community Media Internship program. Join up to 8 other youth to engage in interesting media making projects! This paid media internship opportunity is designed for youth aged 16-20 who are eager to gain professional experience in the audio-visual field and develop a deeper understanding of their local community. The group will meet under the leadership of Town Meeting TV's Travis Washington from the end of January 2025 to the beginning of June 2025, on a schedule agreed upon by the whole cohort. Click here to apply!