Vermont Business Magazine At 9 am, on March 20th, 2025, The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls' FreeHer VT campaign, Human Impact Partners, MadFreedom Advocates, public health workers, and other allies are gathering in the Montpelier statehouse Cedar Creek room to announce the delivery of a sign-on letter opposing the construction of a new women's prison in Vermont. The signatories include 27 organizations and more than 275 advocates and public health workers, representing a wide range of healthcare professionals and organizers, stating that investing in community-based programs and services is a more effective and humane approach to addressing public safety concerns and the root causes that lead to incarceration.
The $97 million proposed prison project has sparked significant concern among public health experts who believe that it will only exacerbate existing social and health disparities. Instead, they advocate for policies and investments that focus on prevention, rehabilitation, and support for individuals in need.
"Instead of being sidetracked by more planning for a new prison, we can improve conditions and services at existing prisons while we focus on rapidly building more housing and finally achieve the dream of a system of community care that promotes recovery, rehabilitation, and redemption," said State Representative Brian Cina.
The collective highlights the fact that there is no such thing as a trauma-informed prison. Prisons, by their very nature, create environments that perpetuate and exacerbate trauma. Public health workers and organizers emphasize the need for trauma-informed approaches that operate within communities, focusing on healing, recovery, and prevention rather than punishment and confinement.
"Prisons inherently lack the capacity to be trauma-informed due to their restrictive and punitive nature," said Jayna Ahsaf, FreeHer VT Campaign Director at The National Council. "While prisons create a temporary illusion of safety, community members return to us from prison with more deeply entrenched challenges and trauma. We must seek solutions that promote healing and support within the community."
The staff and members at the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls have lived in some of the oldest and most decrepit state and federal prisons in this country, and newer remodeled prisons. The concept of a trauma-informed prison has been rejected by formerly incarcerated women and experts alike.
“Over 90% of the incarcerated individuals at CRCF, including myself, are survivors of domestic and/or sexual assault. My own mental health challenges were undiagnosed when I committed my transgression. Since then, I have been diagnosed with severe PTSD, largely due to my time under supervision,” said Tiffany Harrington, organizer with FreeHer VT and formerly incarcerated in Vermont prisons. “I am the rule, not the exception. Prisons are incapable of providing healing and rehabilitation and only serve to exacerbate the root causes that lead to incarceration.”
The coalition has sent a letter to state legislators urging them to reconsider the prison construction project and redirect funds towards community-based alternatives. They emphasize that these alternatives have been proven to reduce recidivism and improve overall community well-being and safety.
"We know that our communities are safer and healthier when the state invests in the things we need to survive — housing, healthcare, education, transportation — and not into constructing more prisons and jails," said Christine Mitchell, Health Instead of Punishment Program Director at Human Impact Partners. "We know — and research supports — incarceration cannot and should not be the primary point of care for our loved ones. This is basic public health."
Public health workers and advocates are calling for a stop to the prison project and a commitment to explore more humane and effective solutions. They are hopeful that their collective voice will prompt meaningful action from the state legislature.
"As of today, the state of Vermont has 64 sentenced women in custody. There are 56 detained women waiting for their day in court. Instead of building a $97 million new facility, take care of what we have now! Educate, provide weekly group counseling, proper health care, and life skills management, said Leslie Thorsen, registered nurse and organizer with Vermont Just Justice. "Study our re-entry failures and create meaningful community support resources like housing, transportation, and jobs. The time is now."
Incarcerated Women and Girls
94 Colchester Ave
Burlington, VT 05401
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