We are committed to ending the mass
incarceration of women & girls.
The United States is the global leader in
locking up women & girls.
One third of the world’s women prisoners are locked up in the U.S. even though just 4% of the world’s female population lives here. In Pennsylvania, the incarceration rate of women and girls exceeds that of every other nation on earth.
229,053
Women & girls are incarcerated in prisons, jails, & juvenile facilities across the U.S.
86%
Of incarcerated women are the victims of prior sexual assault & gender violence.
2/3
Of women in prison are mothers to children under the age of 18.
WHAT WE DO
Direct Assistance
Expert assistance for women and girls fighting wrongful convictions and unjust sentences. We offer research, strategy, and expert testimony.
Research & Public Policy Advocacy
Policy-relevant research on gender and mass incarceration that centers and amplifies the voices of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and girls.
Education & Training
Educational programming, training, and technical assistance for stakeholders including families, advocates, students, attorneys, and members of the judiciary.
On this day & every day, we condemn attacks on the trans community & stand in fierce opposition to all attempts to erase, stigmatize, and marginalize trans people. Trans people are valued & beloved members of our community. 💗🏳️⚧️ #transdayofvisibility #tdov2023
What an amazing event our undergrad chapter @villanovau hosted lasted night!! We are so honored to share the stage with @lgoodmark @freeish2022 @5shortsproject & our VIP guests @morkea73gmail & @mrs_july19 Thank you so much to everyone who came out, to our wonderful board member @kennyofcourse who asked THE question that needed to be asked, and to our wonderful student members & exec leaders who put it all together!! We can’t wait for the next one! #endmassincarceration #wrongfulconviction #secondchances #phillyjusticeproject
This Wednesday (3/29) @villanovau All are welcome! Doors open 7:30 pm. Event begins at 8 pm. #wrongfulconvictions #secondchances
See @phillyinquirer for story & details. 🚨🚨🚨
Save the date for our #wrongfulconvictions & #secondchances event hosted by our amazing undergrad chapter @villanovau & featuring speakers @lgoodmark @freeish2022 @5shortsproject @jill.mccorkel . All are welcome. Doors open 7:30 pm. Event begins 8 pm in Driscoll 132 on March 29. Hope to see u there!!! 🔥🔥🔥
Yo Philly! We have a few events coming up next week that we hope you’ll join us at. Our undergrad chapter @villanovau is hosting a panel discussion on Wrongful Convictions & Second Chances on Wednesday evening March 29 on Villanova campus. Our panelists include U Maryland law prof @lgoodmark , Villanova alum & founder of Lets Circle Up @freeish2022 , founder of @5shortsproject Shameka Sawyer, & our very own director & Villanova prof @jill.mccorkel They’ll be discussing why opportunities for commutation, particularly for those serving long term sentences must be expanded, as well as how & why the system gets it wrong so often leading to wrongful convictions & unjust sentences. All our welcome—join us!!! Doors open 7:30 pm. #villanova #secondchances #commutationnow #wrongfulconviction #phillyjusticeproject
Next week @lycomingcollege (and she’ll be stopping at SCI Muncy too!). Join us!! Monday March 27 at 4 pm with reception to follow.
The deadline to apply for a summer internship with us is fast approaching! We’re looking for undergrad/grad/law students/justice impacted folks who are interested in research & advocacy. Social media/graphic design experience a plus. Link to apply in bio. Internships are unpaid. We encourage successful applicants to seek funding from university & law school programs.
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! We thought we’d share a little knowledge regarding abortion rights in Ireland. Slainte! 🇮🇪
Our official statement on the decision by Lt Gov @austindavispa to terminate, without cause, commutation specialists Blount Wilson and Trudel. #secondchances
It’s International Women’s Day & we’re thinking of Sylvia Boykin, her family, and all the other incarcerated survivors of gender violence who deserve to be home with their loved ones. #commutationnow #secondchances
Yet another reason why we exist. It is inexcusable not to be collecting detailed gender data on every metric that is collected about men. The states aren’t doing it, local governments aren’t doing it, & most progressive justice reform/abolitionist groups aren’t doing it. We are hiring summer interns to help collect some of this data. If this issue interests you, please apply. Link in bio.
It’s #faqfriday & we’re answering your questions about PCRA petitions in Pennsylvania. #pcra #wrongfulconviction
The PA Board of Pardons makes recommendations for clemency to the Governor. As we enter a new term, it’s good to know who these individuals are. Only two positions on the Board are elected, the remaining three voting members are political appointees. The next vacancy on the BoP will be later this year in November. The open seat will be for a “corrections expert.” #secondchances
His victim had to file not 1, not 2, but 3 complaints to internal affairs. All the while she lived in fear he would kill her and/or members of her family. It’s almost as if the police don’t actually protect women from violence 🤔
Interested in race & gender justice? Join our team! Applications now open for full & part time summer internships. Info & link in bio. Deadline to apply: March 31.
Thanks @thevillanovan for covering India Spellman’s #wrongfulconviction & subsequent exoneration. We’re so proud of the work students in our undergrad chapter @VillanovaU did in this case. #freeindiaspellman
Happy birthday, Nina Simone! Born this day in 1933. #inninawetrust
We love a good game of quizzo so we thought we’d launch our own trivia contest. Think you know Philly homicide detectives? Take our quiz & test yourself! A+ for everyone who gets today’s question right without cheating! 🤓📚🕵🏽♀️
Phoenix, consider yourself warned. 😏😂
