Women are the fastest growing correctional population in California.
Nearly 1,000 of these mothers and daughters are serving life sentences with the possibility of parole. Unfortunately, the parole board does not properly consider that up to 93% of these women were survivors of domestic, sexual or childhood abuse prior to their incarceration.
For two years, Attorney Lilli Paratore’s focus has been on bringing home survivors of gender-based violence.
UnCommon Law has been successful in 86% of parole hearings in women's prisons during this time. We provide healing-centered counseling and legal assistance that helps people who are serving life sentences gain their freedom and return to their families and communities.
Our Parole Success Advocate, Sara Kruzan, is leading a national effort to support survivors of violence who defend themselves from their abusers.
The federal bill named for her case - Sara’s Law - was just introduced in Congress and allows for a reduced sentence when a youthful survivor of trauma is convicted of a serious crime. That work started here in California.
The Fellowship supporting our women-focused programs is expiring this Summer.
Will you donate today so that we can continue this life-changing work addressing gender-based violence?
Help us raise $50k to strengthen our work in women's prisons and drive the national conversation forward.