From the Inside Out and Back Again: The Challenges of Female “Former” Offenders to Find Community

• In Event: Inside and Out: The Challenges of Living in Prison and Returning Home

Abstract

“She is one of us, the incarcerated woman said as she looked around the circle to the other incarcerated women” Inside Participant of an Inside Out Class.

As a formerly incarcerated woman in academia, this community is unique with only a handful of female convict criminologist finding a platform for their voice. Hearing the challenges of other formerly incarcerated women attempting to strive in academia was eye opening. Many of the women speak of losing positions at Universities, feeling unable to speak openly about their conviction in their positions, or just living secretly in fear of being “discovered”. My experiences as a formerly incarcerated LGBT woman has a different tone than the others stories I have heard. I believe the difference is the development of a community of support. The Inside Out Prison Exchange Program offered me a community without judgment. This community found my conviction to be an asset instead of a deficit. Development of this supportive community can be created with the inclusion of the currently incarcerated individuals as well as many groups and individuals in support of the formerly incarcerated.

Author

• Jeri Kirby, Fairmont State University