Jill L. Snodgrass - Women Leaving Prison: Justice-Seeking Spiritual Support for Female Returning Citizens

Women Leaving Prison

Emerging Perspectives in Pastoral Theology and Care

Series Editor: Kirk Bingaman, Fordham University

The field of pastoral care and counseling, and by extension pastoral theology, is presently at a crossroads, in urgent need of redefining itself for the age of postmodernity or even post-postmodernity. While there is, to be sure, a rich historical foundation upon which the field can build, it remains for contemporary scholars, educators, and practitioners to chart new directions for the present day and age. Emerging Perspectives in Pastoral Theology and Care seeks to meet this pressing need by inviting researchers in the field to address timely issues, such as the findings of contemplative neuroscience, the impact of technology on human development and wellness, mindfulness meditation practice for reducing anxiety, trauma viewed through the lens of positive psychology and resilience theory, clergy health and wellness, postmodern and multicultural pastoral care and counseling, and issues of race and class. The series will therefore serve as an important and foundational resource for years to come, guiding scholars and educators in the field in developing more contemporary models of theory and practice.

Titles in the Series

Women Leaving Prison: Justice-Seeking Spiritual Support for Female Returning Citizens , by Jill L. Snodgrass

The Chaplains Presence and Medical Power: Rethinking Loss in the Hospital System , by Richard Coble

Neuroplasticity, Performativity, and Clergy Wellness: Neighbor Love as Self Care , by William D. Roozeboom

Women Leaving Prison

Justice-Seeking Spiritual Support for Female Returning Citizens

Jill L. Snodgrass

LEXINGTON BOOKS

Lanham Boulder New York London

Published by Lexington Books

An imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

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www.rowman.com

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Copyright 2019 by The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

All rights reserved . No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Snodgrass, Jill Lynnae, author.

Title: Women leaving prison : justice-seeking spiritual support for female returning citizens / Jill L. Snodgrass.

Description: Lanham : Lexington Books, 2018. | Series: Emerging perspectives in pastoral theology and care | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018040858 (print) | LCCN 2018046374 (ebook) | ISBN 9781498544030 (Electronic) | ISBN 9781498544023 (cloth : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Women prisonersReligious life. | Women ex-convictsReligious life. | Women ex-convictsServices for.

Classification: LCC BV4595 (ebook) | LCC BV4595 .S63 2018 (print) | DDC 259/.5082dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018040858

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

The passion poured into these pages was first incited by the returning sisters I journeyed with in clinical pastoral counseling practice at the Clinebell Institute in Claremont, California. They were my clients, but more so they were my teachers about life behind bars, the barriers faced during reentry, and what it means to fight against the prison industrial complex. To those sisters, I am grateful.

The stamina needed to persevere in writing this book was fostered by a research grant from the Louisville Institute, a research leave from Loyola University Maryland, and the gracious support of faculty and student colleagues. To those individuals and institutions, I am grateful.

The courage and humility that it takes to try to tell a story that is not your own, especially when it is a story of oppression and injustice, was given to me by the many returning sisters who themselves were courageous enough to share their stories with me in the interviews grounding this book. They emboldened me by their conviction and desire to give voice to the marginalization experienced by women leaving prison. To those sisters, I am grateful.

The wisdom required to know what to retain and what to leave on the chopping block was offered to me through very diligent feedback from a select, and treasured, few: an anonymous reviewer whose expertise was invaluable; the editorial staff, Sarah Craig and Julia Torres at Lexington Books and series editor Kirk Bingaman, who were patient with me in so many ways; and my research assistant, Nancy Stockbridge, who walked with me every step of the way, sharing her knowledge, experience, and passion for abolishing the prison industrial complex and serving both sisters inside and returning sisters. To those individuals, I am grateful.

The grace that I needed as a human, a professor, a friend, a mother, a sister, and so much more was bestowed to me again and again and again by my loving family and friends, and especially my darling son, Sandro. To those dear ones, I am grateful beyond words.

Figures

Tables

Jasmine never thought she would serve over five years in state prison for prescription drug charges. She never imagined that her addiction would cause her to spend more time behind bars than others serve for second-degree murder. And she never dreamed she would miss the first five years of her daughters life. Yet there she was. Five years gone, awaiting another parole hearing, and wondering what life on the outside would offer her. She dreamed of gaining custody of her eight-year-old son and five-year-old daughter. She imagined getting a job, going to college, and buying a car. She thought about whether or not she could manage to stay sober, especially if forced to live with her mother.