Songs Inside

– Crime rates are down, but more and more people now are being incarcerated, especially women
– Women are the fastest growing group of prisoners: there are 4 times more women in prison compared to 1994
– 35% of these are First Nations women, despite being only 3% of the population
– Incarcerated women often have histories of poverty, domestic violence and childhood trauma. Most struggle with mental health and substance abuse
– Almost 40% of women in prisons are on remand, which means they are in custody awaiting sentencing
– Half of all women prisoners in have been in prison at least once before
– Keeping women in prison costs more than $300,000 per prisoner each year; the total cost for the correctional system is $5.4 billion per year

– Challenge people’s understanding and attitudes about women with lived prison experience and give these women a more positive narrative about themselves and their future opportunities
– Push for targeted, sustained programs that help reintegration into community and avoid the revolving door of incarceration
– Highlight the devastating effects of addiction and past trauma
– Reduce the number of women in prison on remand
– Ignite conversations about the economic and social costs of the prison model and its impacts on women and families, and the high number of incarcerated First Nations women
– Encourage integration of the arts, particularly music, in prison rehabilitation and community change projects

Changing minds:
– Women prisoners are humanised; more people are aware of their situations and have empathy
– Women with lived prison experience have a more positive view of themselves and their future possibilities
– Work providers recognise these women have much to offer and see the benefits of training and employing them
Changing structures:
– Governments create new policies and fund programs tailored for women, inc diversion programs, wrap-around support, trauma informed approaches, community sentencing and other alternatives to prison
– Governments overhaul discriminatory remand and bail laws and procedures
Building communities:
– Keeping women out of prison preserves connections with families and community
– The public profile of organisations that support women in and after prison is greatly elevated
– Governments invest in programs involving music and the arts in rehabilitation and community change projects

We will work with our key partners to access these communities, including; Nancy Bates, SA Department for Correctional Services, Offender and Rehabilitation Services SA and Seeds of Affinity.

SUPPORT PRISONERS: Donate your time or money to the organisations that support women in prison and leaving prison
PUSH FOR REFORM: Get on board the campaigns that are working to change discriminatory systems and promote alternative solutions
MUSIC FOR CHANGE: Help create and sustain music programs in prisons and communities
CREATE EMPLOYMENT: Train and employ women with lived prison experience in your business or organisation
HOST A SCREENING: Gather your friends and colleagues for an in-person or virtual cinema screening and spark discussion about the incarceration of women