“Blind Spots

May 5, 2024 | truthout.org | Victoria Law |“Blind Spots

Part of the SeriesThe Road to Abolition“We have a long way to go to bring justice to all the individuals who were harmed by the ‘tough on crime,’ zero-tolerance legislation passed in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s,” says Amy Povah, founder and director of CAN-DO Justice through Clemency, which advocates for people imprisoned on federal drug sentences. “Many people we are advocating for have served over 25 years and many are elderly and need a second chance,” Povah told Truthout.

Apr 16, 2024 | truthout.org | Victoria Law |“Blind Spots

Part of the SeriesThe Road to AbolitionThe sudden April 15 announcement that FCI Dublin, the federal women’s prison in California dubbed “the rape club,” is slated to be closed came as a shock to those inside — as well as to their attorneys, a federal judge and the monitor she recently appointed for independent oversight. For the women who have been raising an alarm for decades about the widespread and systemic sexual abuse committed by its prison guards, it should have been a victory.

Mar 14, 2024 | truthout.org | Victoria Law |“Blind Spots

At 7:45 on Monday morning, employees at the federal correctional institution (or FCI) in Dublin, California, abruptly placed the prison on lockdown. “Everything seemed normal,” 58-year-old Rhonda Fleming told Truthout. Breakfast had been served as usual. After eating, she went to the education department to do some legal research. Ten minutes later, the entire prison was placed on recall — meaning that every incarcerated person was required to lock into their cells.

Feb 22, 2024 | truthout.org | Victoria Law |“Blind Spots

The federal prison in Dublin, California, made nationwide headlines in 2022 when six employees, including the warden and chaplain, were arrested for sexually abusing women in custody. Later, two more guards were arrested, giving Dublin the highest number of staff charged with sexual abuse of any U.S. prison. Since then, seven employees, including the warden and chaplain, have been convicted or pleaded guilty.

Jan 1, 2024 | truthout.org | Victoria Law |Erica R. Meiners |“Blind Spots |Gina Dent

Part of the SeriesThe Road to AbolitionIn 1992, formerly incarcerated women created Sisters Inside to advocate for the rights of women and girls behind bars in Queensland, Australia. While other grassroots groups and ad hoc campaigns had formed to work with incarcerated women, Sisters Inside remains the country’s first organization founded and run by formerly incarcerated women.