SWOP Behind Bars

Healthcare in women’s prisons highlights systemic inequities that exacerbate poor health outcomes. Women require gender-specific services such as prenatal care, menstrual health management, and treatment for gynecological conditions like cervical cancer, yet access is inconsistent, and delays are common. Pregnant women face inadequate care, reports of shackling during labor, and limited postpartum support.

As the year comes to a close, I’m reaching out with a sense of urgency. The work we do at SWOP Behind Bars has never been more critical, and we need your help now to make an even greater impact in 2024.   Thanks to your generosity, we’ve made incredible strides this year in supporting incarcerated LGBTQ+ individuals and sex workers. Your contribution has enabled us to:   Provide emotional support, safety planning and help craft exit strategies for Sex Workers and Survivors of exploitation, and connect over 10,000 callers with vital resources through our Community Support Line. Expand our National Resource Directory to offer life-changing services across the country. Foster hope and connection by linking 2,500 pen pals with over 10,000 incarcerated sex workers and survivors. Help survivors prepare affidavits for post-conviction relief, bringing them closer to justice. Provide essential identification documents to 35 formerly incarcerated individuals, unlocking their access to housing and services. Offer gap housing to 18 trafficking survivors, ensuring their safety while awaiting critical programs. Facilitate transportation for 9 survivors fleeing violence, helping them find refuge and support in life-saving programs.   But the need is still urgent.   In 2025, we aim to:   Expand our reentry guidance program to support even more individuals as they transition back to society. Launch the Power Outside Survivor Reentry App, a groundbreaking tool that will help returning citizens navigate their reintegration. Build a stronger network of care to support that society often forgets.   These goals are ambitious, but they are also critical. The individuals we serve face immense challenges and risks every single day, and without your support, these efforts won’t be possible. Your gift today will help us turn these plans into action—and ensure we can reach those who need us most, right now.   Will you increase your support today and help us provide life-saving resources, support, and hope to those who are counting on us? https://lnkd.in/eZxrMgNM

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an approach to healthcare, social services, and corrections that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and seeks to create safe, supportive environments for healing. It acknowledges the role trauma plays in shaping an individual’s behavior, decisions, and overall well-being. Specific to sex workers and survivors of sex trafficking, trauma-informed care centers their lived experiences, avoiding practices that could retraumatize them while promoting empowerment and self-determination. You can Read or Listen to the Audio Version of the Podcast here! https://lnkd.in/eqVAQapM

The anti-trafficking movement has faced significant criticism over the years, and for good reason. The reliance on law enforcement’s “arrest-and-sort-it-out-later” approach to exploitation is riddled with systemic flaws. Rooted in biases, inequalities, and a lack of trauma-informed care, this strategy often exacerbates harm rather than offering solutions. Instead of addressing the needs of survivors and sex workers, it perpetuates cycles of poverty, criminalization, and marginalization, leaving the very individuals it claims to protect even more vulnerable. You can read or listen to our blog! https://lnkd.in/eWvzwTzk

We already know End Demand Tactics don't work but the long term implications on individuals and families is devastating to communities.  If we truly desire to move forward, it’s crucial to reevaluate the effectiveness and humanity of end-demand initiatives. Policies meant to reduce harm should not create new cycles of poverty, trauma, and family destruction. Instead, we must prioritize interventions that address the root causes of systemic inequality and exploitation, offering real support to those impacted. https://lnkd.in/eUjEHy3g

For over a decade, Sheriff Grady Judd has been "fighting sex trafficking" in Polk County—Florida's fourth largest county by area and eighth largest by population—through high-profile human trafficking stings and dramatic YouTube videos. Judd even maintains his own YouTube channel, where he recounts recent arrests with flair, displaying mugshots on large placards and issuing widely distributed press releases. His most recent sting targeted Asian massage parlors, sparking significant controversy within advocacy spaces. Referred to as “The Joe Arpaio of Florida,” Judd has both staunch supporters and vocal critics.

As the dust settles on yet another intense election season, we’re left with the burning question: What the f&$ do we do now?* Whether you’re reeling from a tough outcome or cautiously optimistic, the road ahead can feel both daunting and uncertain. At SWOP Behind Bars, we want to channel this energy into real, tangible action that aligns with our core mission: supporting sex workers and those impacted by the criminal justice system. The road ahead seems impossible but together we can continue to build on our strengths - and our greatest strength will always be each other! https://lnkd.in/ei4Pz5Nk

The recent allegations against Russell "Bruce" Moncrief, owner of Moncrief Bail Bonds, cast a harsh spotlight on power abuse within the bail bond industry. Moncrief, facing charges of human trafficking and racketeering, allegedly leveraged his position to coerce women into providing sexual favors in exchange for bond services. This case underscores the need for transparency in the bail bond system and highlights the vulnerabilities faced by marginalized groups, including sex workers. https://lnkd.in/gawJXSwT

PREA, the Prison Rape Elimination Act, enacted in 2003, was intended to address the rampant issue of sexual abuse in U.S. prisons and jails. However, like much of the prison system, PREA operates within the same broken framework that it claims to reform. Despite its efforts to create a zero-tolerance policy for sexual violence, PREA has done little to challenge the ingrained culture of abuse, and the power dynamics within these facilities continue to expose prisoners to harm. This is especially true for the most vulnerable populations, such as LGBTQ+ individuals, women, and disabled people, who are disproportionately affected by violence. https://lnkd.in/eXUAVsA2

PREA, the Prison Rape Elimination Act, enacted in 2003, was intended to address the rampant issue of sexual abuse in U.S. prisons and jails. However, like much of the prison system, PREA operates within the same broken framework that it claims to reform. Despite its efforts to create a zero-tolerance policy for sexual violence, PREA has done little to challenge the ingrained culture of abuse, and the power dynamics within these facilities continue to expose prisoners to harm. This is especially true for the most vulnerable populations, such as LGBTQ+ individuals, women, and disabled people, who are disproportionately affected by violence. https://lnkd.in/eXUAVsA2