Entry Lessons

More about the book

Through oral histories, interviews, and research, the book examines the daily struggles of women reentering life after incarceration and proposes concrete solutions to this pressing issue. By the end of 2019, women had become the fastest growing population in the U.S. criminal justice system, yet their experiences remain under-documented. The impact of their incarceration and reentry on their lives and families is not well understood. Anthropologist Jorja Leap emphasizes the need to illuminate all facets of these women's journeys to fully comprehend the challenges they face. She explores the traumas experienced by girls and women, the unique difficulties within the criminal justice system, and the reentry process. Leap shares poignant stories, such as that of Clara, who endured childhood abuse and later lost her children to the welfare system, highlighting systemic failures. She identifies a lack of reentry programs as a key factor in recidivism rates, revealing how trauma is entrenched in the reentry system. Drawing from her extensive involvement in existing reentry programs, Leap shares powerful narratives of women navigating these challenges. She concludes with a call for structural change, advocating for the development of meaningful programs and policies to break the cycles of abuse and trauma in women's lives.