Title: Serving Formerly Incarcerated Survivors of Sexual Assault: A Webinar for Advocates and Victim Service Providers Slide 1: Serving Formerly Incarcerated Survivors of Sexual Assault: * A Webinar for Advocates and Victim Service Providers * September 26, 2019 * This webinar was produced by the Vera Institute of Justice Center on Victimization and Safety under Award # 2016-XV-GX-K015, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this webinar are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Slide 2: Welcome Allison Hastings IMAGE of Allison Hastings, smiling Project Director Vera Institute of Justice Slide 3: Agenda Ą Overview of the problem and barriers to services: Allison Hastings, Vera Institute of Justice Ą Reaching and Preparing to Serve Formerly Incarcerated Survivors: Dave Rini, Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) Ą Serving Formerly Incarcerated Survivors: Kenton Kirby, Neighbors in Action,. Center for Court Innovation Ą Putting it all together Ą Questions & Answers Slide 4: About Us: The National Resource Center for Reaching Victims * The National Resource Center for Reaching Victims is a one-stop shop for victim service providers, culturally specific organizations, criminal justice professionals, and policymakers to get information and expert guidance to enhance their capacity to identify, reach, and serve all victims, especially those from communities that are underrepresented in healing services and avenues to justice. * We are supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. Slide 5: About Us: The National Resource Center for Reaching Victims (2) Our communities of focus are victims who are: Ą Immigrants or Limited English Proficient, Ą Men of color, Ą Women of color or from other historically marginalized populations, Ą Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning, Ą Children, Ą Older adults, Ą People with disabilities or people who are Deaf, and Ą Formerly incarcerated. Slide 6: About Us: The National Resource Center for Reaching Victims (3) We are a collaboration among: Ą Caminar Latino Ą Casa de Esperanza Ą Common Justice Ą FORGE Ą The National ChildrenŐs Advocacy Center Ą The National Center for Victims of Crime Ą The National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later in Life Ą Vera Institute of Justice Ą Women of Color Network, Inc Slide 7: About Us: The National Resource Center for Reaching Victims (4) We are working to: Ą increase the number of victims who receive healing supports by understanding who is underrepresented and why some people access services while others donŐt; Ą design and implement best practices for connecting people to the services they need; and Ą empower and equip organizations to provide the most useful and effective services to crime victims. Slide 8: Vera Institute of Justice Center on Victimization and Safety * Works to improve access to healing services for all victims of crime. * Focuses on groups of people who are at elevated risk of harm, but have less access to healing and avenues to justice, including: o People with disabilities, o People who are Deaf, o Incarcerated people, and o Formerly incarcerated people. Slide 9: Sexual victimization before, during, and after incarceration * Facts and figures * Barriers to services * Opportunities for healing Slide 10: Most people in jail or prison were victims first In his study of 122 (107 men and 15 women) people who returned to the Boston area post-incarceration, Bruce Western found that prior to incarceration: Ą 40% had witnessed someone being killed Ą Nearly half were beaten by their parents Ą 1/3 grew up with family violence Ą 16% reported being sexually abused Ą Half were seriously injured while growing up Slide 11: Many experienced sexual violence prior to incarceration 1999 report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics: Ą Nearly 6 in 10 women in state prisons had experienced physical or sexual abuse prior to their incarceration. Ą 69% reported that the abuse occurred before age 18. 1998 study of men in a NY state prison: Ą 68% experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect before age 12. Ą More than 1:3 experienced severe childhood physical abuse. Slide 12: Most women in jail have experienced sexual and/or domestic violence Histories of victimization are nearly universal for women in U.S. jails: Ą 86% have experienced sexual violence Ą 77% have survived intimate partner violence Slide 13: Many people behind bars experience sexual abuse during their incarceration * IMAGE of 1 in 10 former adult state inmates report being sexually abused while in detention * Courtesy of Just Detention International Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sexual Victimization Reported By Former State Prisoners, 2008 (May 2012). Slide 14: Faces of survivors * IMAGES of 3 survivors; transgender woman of color who survived sexual abuse while incarcerated, black male survivor of sexual abuse while in confinement, standing in front of stairs, and white male survivor of sexual abuse while incarcerated * Photos courtesy of Just Detention International Slide 15 What happens when people return home? * Of the 122 participants Bruce WesternŐs Boston Reentry Study, 1/4 had been threatened or attacked since returning home. * ŇAs victims, the respondents were shot, stabbed, beaten, raped, and molested. But even beyond the familiar roles of victim and offender, nearly all respondents reported witnessing serious violence, and all reported fighting in which the roles of victim and offender were difficult to distinguish.Ó -Bruce Western, Homeward (p. 80) Slide 16: Many victims do not get help while they are incarcerated. Slide 17: Barriers to reporting and services during incarceration * IMAGE of chart, Barriers include: 69% report feeling embarrassed or ashamed; 70% didn't want anyone to know; 43% thought that staff would not investigate; 52% are afraid of the perpetrator; and 41% are afraid of being punished by staff * Courtesy of Just Detention International * Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Sexual Victimization Reported By Former State Prisoners, 2008,Ň May 12, 2012. Slide 18: Even during reentry and after they have returned home, many victims do not get the services they need to heal. Slide 19: Barriers to accessing victim services during reentry Ą The language we use is not always the language formerly incarcerated survivors use Ą False dichotomy of ŇvictimÓ and ŇperpetratorÓ Ą Stigma Ą Reentry services and victim services are siloed Ą Few trauma-informed service programs for victims/survivors who have an incarceration history Slide 20: Opportunities for healing Ą Victims of Crime Act rule change Ą Efforts to address sexual abuse stemming from the Prison Rape Elimination Act Ą Growing awareness among victim advocates and criminal justice reformers that people do not fit neatly into a singular category of ŇvictimÓ or ŇoffenderÓ Ą Pilot project between the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center and Office of Returning Citizens Slide 21: Reaching and Preparing to Serve Formerly Incarcerated Survivors Ą Dave Rini, Incarcerated Survivor Support Program Manager, Ą Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Slide 22: Welcome Dave Rini * Dave Rini * Incarcerated Survivor Support Program Manager * Boston Area Rape Crisis Center * IMAGE of Dave Rini standing at the front of a classroom, in front of a white board Slide 23: The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Ą Founded in 1973 Ą Oldest and largest Rape Crisis Center in Massachusetts Ą One of 3 independent rape crisis centers in Massachusetts Slide 24: Incarcerated Survivor Support Program Ą Services: Ą 12-hour hotline Ą 24-hour medical advocacy Ą Limited mail program Ą Advocates for investigational interviews Ą Inmate education and orientation Ą Training and technical assistance Slide 25: Returning and Healing Project Ą IMAGE of a Venn Diagram: BARCC and the MayorŐs Office of Returning Citizens partnered on the Returning and Healing Project to increase access to healing services for formerly incarcerated survivors of sexual violence Slide 26: ŇIncarceration-InformedÓ (draft definition!) 1. Realizes the widespread impact (trauma, conditioning) of incarceration and understands potential paths for de-institutionalization 2. Recognizes the collateral consequences of incarceration for clients, families, and communities 3. Responds by fully integrating knowledge about incarceration into policies, procedures, and practices 4. Resists re-traumatization Slide 27: Need-to-Answer Questions IMAGE of Arrows from left to right, Staff Needs, Protocol Rules, and Logistics Slide 28: Staff Needs Ą Thoughts on the correctional system? Ą Thoughts on racism/racial justice? Ą Thoughts on working with men/male survivors? Ą Does your staff look like the community you serve, including people in detention? Slide 29: Protocol Rules Ą What are the limits on working with perpetrators? Ą How do you define Ňperpetration?Ó Ą What are your mandated reporting obligations? Ą Can you do remote service? Ą Confidentiality concerns? Slide 30: Logistics Ą How do people get to you/your space? Ą How much staff time/capacity do you have available? Ą What does your intake process/pathway look like? Slide 31: Three Necessities Ą IMAGE of a Circle: Trust, Awareness, and Effectiveness Slide 32: Necessities: Awareness Ą In Franklin Field, more than 1 in 5 male residents age 25 to 29 were incarcerated during this six-year period; for Grove Hall, the figure was 1 in 6. Ą IMAGE of Map of Suffolk county showing the releases from the Suffolk County House of Correction by Neighborhood and Race/Ethnicity from 2009 to 2015. Slide 33: Necessities: Awareness (2) Ą IMAGE of Narcotics Anonymous Symbol, NA Ą IMAGE of Alcoholics Anonymous Symbol, AA Slide 34: Necessities: Trust Ą Staff Training o Population knows it wonŐt be stigmatized Ą Clear Protocols o Population is only referred when appropriate Ą Accurate Collateral o Population knows what to expect Slide 35: Necessity: Effectiveness (or credibility) Ą Prison/Jail Knowledge Ą Local Re-Entry Knowledge Ą Criminal Legal System Knowledge Ą Safety Knowledge Slide 36: Example: Effectiveness (or credibility) (2) Ą Cell Phone, 2005 Ą IMAGE of old motorola cell phone from 2005 Ą Cell Phone, 2019 Ą IMAGE of Smart phone from 2019 Slide 37: How to get the basics: effectiveness Ą Talk to local re-entry agencies Ą Find grassroots agencies run by formerly incarcerated people Ą Get inside the walls, if possible Ą Talk to inmate/prisoner councils, if you are allowed to Ą Build up some concrete resources you can provide! Slide 38: Getting ready Ą IMAGE of arrows from left to right: Train Staff, Build Protocols, Build Relationships, Market Services, Serve Survivors Slide 39: Serving Formerly Incarcerated Survivors Ą Kenton Kirby, Director of Trauma and Healing Ą Neighbors in Action, Center for Court Innovation Slide 40: Welcome Kenton Kirby Ą Kenton Kirby Ą Director of Trauma & Healing Ą Neighbors in Action Ą Center for Court Innovation Ą IMAGE of Kenton Kirby, portrait Slide 41: About Neighbors in Action Ą Community-based organization working to end gun violence in Brooklyn: Save Our Streets (S.O.S.): first Cure Violence site in New York Ą A project of The Center for Court Innovation (CCI), a New York-based nonprofit that aims to advance the cause of justice reform and reduce incarceration Ą IMAGE of 13 men and women of color hold up a sign that says ŇSave Our Streets: SOS Slide 42: Slide About Neighbors in Action (2) Ą Heart center: those most at risk for gun violence Ą IMAGES of Six photos that demonstrate: promoting safety, healing, investing in youth, helping neighbors, organizing (in the community), and placemaking. Ą All wrap-around services address the heart center, such as: Ą Legal Hand: storefront providing legal resources Ą Youth programs: high schoolers organizing to end gun violence Ą Make It Happen: therapeutic services addressing the trauma of community violence Slide 43: Our work with young men of color who are trauma survivors Make It Happen Ą For young men of color between the ages of 16 and 24 who have been negatively impacted by community violence. Ą We support participants in recognizing their trauma(s) and engaging in healing through: o therapeutic services, o intensive case management, o mentorship, o advocacy, and o movement-building. Slide 44: What weŐve learned Ą How to talk to formerly incarcerated people, particularly men and men of color, about the trauma theyŐve experienced. Ą Building trust is vital in beginning the conversation around traumatic experiences. Ą Safety is a driving force in many decisions people make. Slide 45: Helping formerly incarcerated people feel safe to access sexual assault services Ą Getting comfortable as service providers to talk about sensitive subjects. Ą While creating a safe space to process with survivors Ą Being transparent about what the process looks like. Ą We canŐt guarantee safety, but we can work to help someone be Ňsafe enoughÓ Slide 46: Putting It All Together: Key Takeaways Slide 47: Key Points Ą Become incarceration-informed Ą Gain comfort as service providers to talk about sexual trauma and incarceration without relying on clinical terms Ą Build trust and credibility through staff training, responsive policies and protocols, and relationship-building within the community Ą Create space and safety for people to talk about their experiences Slide 48: Questions? Slide 49: Contact information Ą Allison Hastings Ą Vera Institute of Justice Ą ahastings@vera.org Slide 50: Citations Ą Slide 10: Bruce Western, Homeward: Life in the Year After Prison (New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2018), p. 67. Ą Slide 11: National Institute of Justice, Early Childhood Victimization Among Incarcerated Adult Felons: Research Preview (Washington, DC, 1998). Ą Bureau of Justice Statistics, Women Offenders (Washington, DC, 1999). Ą For the information on prior abuse before admission to state prison, see Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prior Abuse Reported by Inmates and Probationers (1999). Ą Slide 12: Shannon Lynch and others. WomenŐs Pathways to Jail: The Roles and Intersections of Serious Mental Illness and Trauma (Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2012). 1