Resistance Behind Bars: The Struggles of Incarcerated Women

*Freedom for Joan Starr*

It is with great joy that we announce that another domestic violence survivors has been released on parole from state prison!

Joan Starr was released last week after serving 19 years of a 7 years-to-life sentence. This was the 1st time that 79-year-old Joan was found suitable for parole.

Ms. Starr's freedom is the result of the hard work of many people who have supported her over the years. Free Battered Women especially would like to express our tremendous gratitude and deep appreciation to our colleagues at Morrison & Foerster LLP: attorney Kay Fitz-Patrick?s advocacy on behalf of Ms. Starr has been truly inspiring.

Free Battered Women and Legal Services for Prisoners with Children?s Older Prisoner Campaign wishes Joan much joy, strength, and courage as she begins the next stage of her journey.

*Please Support Theresa Fredericks*

Currently we are having trouble with our online fax-alert so we are asking you to please email and call the Governor directly to support Ms. Fredericks!

- Call the Governor at 916-445-0873 and tell the Legal Affairs staff that you support Theresa Fredericks' release on parole!

- Email him at http://www.govmail.ca.gov/

Ms. Fredericks has spent over 21 years on a 15-years-to-life sentence relating to the death of her sister's abusive husband in 1982. The Board of Parole Hearings found Ms. Fredericks suitable for parole for the second time on July 29, 2009.

Ms. Fredericks has been a model prisoner at the Central California Women?s Facility in Chowchilla. She has been active in vocational and other programs, has been pursuing a college degree, has worked for the same company for over ten years (receiving excellent reviews for her performance), and has maintained a near blemish-free prison record. She has also immersed herself in all of the self-help resources available to her, including Narcotics Anonymous, Battered Women's Support Group, Substance Abuse Program, Creative Conflict Resolutions, Breaking Barriers, Parenting Program, Violence Group, Anger and Stress Management, Grief and Loss Group, Healthy Transitions, Women?s Advisory Council, Healthy Transitions, and both one-on-one and group psychotherapy. She has been a leader in many of these programs and a mentor and counselor for many of her fellow prisoners. She is committed to remaining involved with community outreach and hopes that her experience can be used to help other young women avoid the mistakes she made. She has maintained close relationships and ties with supportive family and friends, and she has received uniformly favorable evaluations from various correctional and mental-health professionals over the years. Prior to her conviction Ms. Fredericks had no criminal record. She has accepted responsibility and expressed tremendous remorse for her participation in the crime for which she was convicted.