What I Learned In Prison (Part 2)

I recently worked with a part of our population that is underserved in the "Freedom to Choose Prison Project for women inmates."

My prayer is that we can break the cycle within these broken families. We need to knock down that revolving door at prison. Kids with parents in prison often end up in prison themselves.

Here are some additional facts:

• The women's prison population has grown 757 percent from 1977 through 2005, according to the Institute on Women and Criminal Justice.

• 70 percent the women in prison or under correctional supervision are mothers, according to the Department of Justice.

• 65% were single mothers.

• 1.3 million children are affected, according to the Department of Justice.

• As of December 31, 1999, 73.3% of women in California prisons were imprisoned for non-violent offenses, the majority (43.5% of total) of which were drug crimes. (CDC)

• In 1999, new female felon admissions for drug crimes reached a new high: 50.1%. (CDC, California Prisoners and Parolees 2000, Table 33)

• According to a Department of Justice Statistics report released in April 1998, 48% of women in United States jails reported being sexually or physically abused prior to their detention. Prison officials told me privately that they assessed the figure at 80%.

In the coming weeks, I will be sharing ways that you can help some of the most challenged Americans.

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Ask Eli a question at info@elidavidson.com or go to www.elidavidson.com to send her your favorite lesson you learned.

Eli Davidson is a nationally recognized executive coach and motivational speaker.

Her book, Funky to Fabulous: Surefire Success Stories for The Savvy, Sassy and Swamped, (Oak Grove Publishing) has won three national book awards.

The Inner Life
Before you dismiss the experience of someone in prison as the polar opposite of your own...here is a quiz. Are You In Your Own Prison? • Do you identify yourself by what you do? • How about what...
Before you dismiss the experience of someone in prison as the polar opposite of your own...here is a quiz. Are You In Your Own Prison? • Do you identify yourself by what you do? • How about what...