By Laura Berland
Over the past quarter-century, more expansive law enforcement efforts, stiffer drug sentencing laws, and post-conviction barriers has significantly increased the female prison population. The number of incarcerated women in the United States is seven times higher than in 1980, and more than 60% of women in state prisons have a child under the age of 18.
While Massachusetts has the fewest number of incarcerated women in the country (roughly 300 as reported by the Department of Corrections (DOC) in January 2020), this hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm for prison construction. As I write, the Massachusetts DOC is proposing the construction of a $50 million dollar women’s prison. And the Massachusetts government is in negotiation with HDR, a global architecture firm, for a $550, 000 design contract.
Not only is it morally wrong — this project represents a grossly irresponsible use of tax dollars. It reeks of lobbying by vested interests who are making money off the prison industrial complex, and, consequently, human suffering.
There are alternatives. In a letter to HDR asking the firm to withdraw, community activists write: “We can build healing centers in our communities to begin addressing mental health and trauma in our own neighborhoods, rather than building yet another prison to incarcerate more mothers and daughters while profiting off Black, Brown and cash-poor communities.”
One of the activists leading the effort is Stacey Borden, founder of the nonprofit New Beginnings Re-Entry Services. Formerly incarcerated herself, Borden has been working in partnership with community agencies to empower and provide supportive services to formerly incarcerated women. Having run a highly successful fund raising campaign, she is currently developing a home called Kimya’s House in Dorchester that will serve as a residential treatment center for 15 women.
“When we picture what different looks like, we see Kimya’s house — a sanctuary for formerly incarcerated women to heal, and a place where women can go instead of jail and prison, run by and for women who have been through it,” she says.
Right now in Massachusetts, we have a chance to take a different approach. We can focus on healing women and families rather than continue the cycle of violence and trauma that are the reality of incarceration.
I am calling on HDR to withdraw from the project and for our legislators to place a moratorium on all new prison construction. I hope you’ll add your voice. If we are serious about addressing over-incarceration, this is an excellent place to start.
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I agree. Big money contracts to public and/or private companies creates an incentive to not only incarcerate greater numbers of women, but to incarcerate them for longer periods of time.
Any big money contracts should go towards the goals of rehabilitation, healing, and employment training & education NOT more jails.
The fact that over 60% of incarcerated women in the US have a child under the age of 18 is heartbreaking.
The state is proposing to replace the old prison in Framingham, not expand capacity.
I completely agree with Laura Berland. I call on HDR to withdraw from this project. Mass incarceration of black and brown citizens ( men and woman) is a for profit motive on the backs of enormous suffering in this country as referred to in the important book by attorney Michelle Alexander – The New Jim Crow .