#actionables

Holiday season is upon us, the pandemic is still raging, and 2020 is winding down. For incarcerated survivors of domestic and sexual violence, who were already battling severe isolation and hardship prior to COVID-19, this time of the year can be especially difficult: it’s supposed to be a time of coming together with family and loved ones, but care and contact from the outside have become more challenging than ever. Help us send some holiday love to incarcerated survivors, break through the isolation of survivorship, prison walls, and pandemic times, and lift the spirits of those fighting every day to survive. We will deliver these notes in time for Christmas, so please fill out and share widely! You are welcome to submit notes to this form multiple times, and we encourage you to write to more than one survivor! You can read each survivor’s story in-depth here: https://www.defendsurvivorsnow.org/ and find short descriptions below. 𝗚𝗮𝗯𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗼 is an incarcerated survivor of domestic violence. Gabby was sentenced to Life Without Parole after receiving inadequate legal counsel and a judge denied an appeal to allow an abuse expert to advise the jury on the impact of Gabby’s abuse. Gabby has been incarcerated for over 20 years, and after a commutation of her sentence, is eligible for parole next month. Gabby hopes to pursue a career in civic translation or language instruction when she is released. 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁 is a Black transgender woman who has completed her 22 year sentence for defending herself against her abusive partner, and she continues to be incarcerated because of an enhancement. Brandy is one of two transgender people serving time in a women’s facility in California, she is a long-term member of TGI Justice Project, Survived & Punished, and the California Coalition for Women’s Prisoners, and she is seeking a commutation of her sentence. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘆 𝗗𝘆𝗲𝗿 is an incarcerated survivor of childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault. Stacey has been incarcerated for 17 years now, and is serving a sentence of life without parole. 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀 is a Black, transgender survivor of childhood sexual assault who was in a psychologically abusive relationship at the time of his arrest, and whose sentence was compounded by an inadequate legal defense. Kanoa is a community leader that has spent his 21 years imprisoned working to decrease violence and reduce the harms of imprisonment by becoming a Certified Mediator, a Domestic Violence Program facilitator, and a mentor to young people. 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 is a Black mother, an incarcerated survivor of ongoing severe domestic violence, and a former highway patrol officer. In prison, Tomiekia facilitates support groups such as Pathways to Freedom, the Live, Learn, and Prosper program where she supports others who have experienced trauma, and she volunteers for charity and holiday programs as a practice of her Christian faith. Tomiekia is seeking a commutation of her sentence of 50 years to life, which failed to take into account the profound violence she experienced within her relationship. 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘇 is an incarcerated survivor of childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence and has been incarcerated for 11 years for a crime committed by her abuser. After a long trial, throughout which her abuser continued to threaten her, she was sentenced to Life Without Parole. While incarcerated, she has dedicated her time to supporting other incarcerated survivors through restorative justice programs and educating people on violence and trauma. She’s also a mother of 3 young children. 𝗔𝗿𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝘂𝗴𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 is an incarcerated survivor whose case details can’t be made public at this time, but would appreciate your kindness nonetheless. 𝗪𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗻𝗴 is an incarcerated mother, community leader, and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and intergenerational domestic violence.