Survivors

ESCAPE

Survivors

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Incarcerated Survivors" does not refer exclusively to women who are incarcerated as a result of a domestic violence charge. Rather it is a term used to denote all female inmates who have victimization histories.
Most female inmates in US correctional facilities are charged with non-violent drug-related crimes.
While women make up 10% of the nation's prison population, their rate of incarceration is increasing rapidly.
A majority of women incarcerated have a long history of victimization.
Incarceration, with its powerlessness, humiliation, retaliation and fear often triggers traumatic memories.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is one of the most common psychiatric diagnoses for incarcerated women.
Very few survivor groups are in place to help incarcerated women deal with their past history of abuse (in 2001, there were only 35 in the entire nation).
Histories of victimization and substance use or abuse very often co-occur.
Most women are incarcerated due to drug-related charges.
Dealing with their victimization history better prepares incarcerated survivors for successful reentry in society.

Testimonials

"From the moment I walked into the class, I felt that you heard me and really listened to me. I am gonna be honest: at first I signed up just to get out of the pod and because DCFS said I had to. But as I started going, I was learning and I loved the class and from that moment I was committed to it."

"Surviving Abuse" participant

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My Sisters, Inc. is a tax-exempt organization as defined under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is registered in the state of Illinois as a charitable organization. Contributions to My Sisters, Inc. are tax deductible.

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