“There is a tale to tell here…”
“There is a tale to tell here. People in prisons across Massachusetts were able to testify for relevant legislation (such as human rights in prison, ending life without parole, elder parole and many more) during the legislative sessions of 2023 and 2025. The former year of course, was the first time in history this has happened in this state. This is extremely important because you cannot expect anyone (politicians, the public, etc) to be able to make educated decisions on laws when they don't know the reality of the subject (in this case, prison). How could anyone know if they don't hear from the people actually living in prisons? The DOC itself has no reason to do anything but make itself look good, so there is no reason for them to publicly share things that could make them look badly, or take jobs away from them. We must listen to each other in order to understand the reality of things.
Of course I knew nothing about this. I arrived to Framingham prison in 2022. I was in shock from the horrors of court, not understanding what had happened and pouring my focus into my faith. I believe things happen for a reason and we must trust. I trust that I was meant to come here but not to stay here. I believe wrongs will be righted, truth will come out and in the meantime I am meant to be a witness to this system and share with the world. This is, at least, one of my purposes.
As I slowly centered myself in being grounded and opening myself to finding my purpose, I started to learn a great deal about the history of prison. Women who had been here for decades shared the things they had witnessed and I was amazed. (That subject could encompass a book). I then started to learn about law (and consequently how it was purposefully and illegally withheld from inmates in county jail...if I had known then what I know now). I had already known that the system was a joke but now I was being drowned in overwhelming evidence only confirming this further. But what could I do? Be another person to write a book about it?
Then one day, I was sitting upon a picnic table in the side yard of my unit. Another and I quietly enjoying some peace and sunlight, when suddenly this woman in normal clothing walks out and greets someone at the other table. This was State Representative Erika Uyterhoeven, and she introduced herself kindly to everyone. Immediately approaching with a big smile and firm handshake, we could all see she was clearly someone incredible. Usually when politicians come through prison, they are escorted at a distance or while inmates are locked in, only reinforcing unnecessary fear and ensuring no real communication. This woman was different.
To make a long story short, she continued to return and essentially talk to everyone about what it was really like here and what problems we faced. She faced many obstacles in doing this; especially the DOC making excuses to try and keep her out. The mail we sent to her often mysteriously vanished. Things of this nature. The women who have been imprisoned for decades emphatically exclaim that they have never -ever- seen a State Rep. visit and truly become involved. She is a genuine real representative of the state.
I believe between Erika, a few other State Reps, Families for Justice as Healing (FJAH), and Prison Legal Services (PLS), there was enough advocacy to finally allow the opportunity for people in prison to testify at a legislative hearing. This took a great deal of effort to actualize. The first bill hearing occurred on July 27th of 2023. Between 15 and 20 women here (myself included), along with dozens of men in their prisons, testified in favor of a bill described as the Prison Construction Moratorium. People rallied, saying we do not need more prisons, we need real rehabilitation and reentry services. Please don't waste money on new prisons. (This year 2025, this bill was heard again).
There were, I believe, four days that inmates testified that year. I didn't write down the proper names but the bills were of these themes: ending life imprisonment for people charged with joint venture, "a second look" act (resentencing based on relevant factors), a primary caretaker's act (to keep families united), ending LWOP, visitation rights, access to the media and many many others. There were struggles to make any of this happen. We would be given only a couple days notice before an upcoming hearing, leaving people scrambling to write their testimonies, not knowing if they would be heard or not. There was the enormous pressure of women (and men) who have sat in silence for decades trying to put their experience into a 3 (later 2) minute testimony. How do you explain so much with so little time? The public is so misinformed. There is so so much to say.
The opportunity came when I was asked if I would speak and I knew it would be wrong to stay silent. So I testified every chance I got, at least five different times. A sixth time myself and others arrived to testify and were suddenly told halfway through it was being shut down for unknown reason (this was 2023 testimony on ending LWOP). I and several others did not get to speak. Things like this have happened repeatedly. I submitted written testimony numerous times and I have tried to share as much as possible. I won't pretend like any of my testimonies are fantastic because I know they are not. They were my quick attempt to show a piece of reality as swiftly as possible. I did my best to give voice to the realities I see here.
That being said, there are dozens and dozens of testimonies from people in prison from 2023 and 2025. I hope you will listen to them if you wish to understand the state of things. And more importantly, there are bills still being heard this year that have yet to pass. Anyone can contact their State Representative and urge them to vote for an important bill. Ending LWOP and granting Elder Parole are some of the most deeply impactful ones. If that sounds odd to you, only read the information and statistics PLS and FJAH compile, listen to real people, and you will understand. I hope you do.” - Julia Enright 8/8/2025 6:54:32 PM
