Weinberg Bill Would Bring Early Release for Jailed Abuse Victims

A bill proposed by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg that would establish a supervised re-entry program to aid women imprisoned for crimes against their abusers was approved in a senate committee Thursday, Senate Democrats announced.

Under Weinberg’s proposal, domestic violence victims would be transferred out of lockup to supervised community-based programs before serving their full prison term. Eligible inmates would first need to undergo psychological evaluations, a risk assessment, a review of prison records and prove their crimes only targeted their abusers.  

“There are many women serving prison sentences who were victims before they committed crimes against their abusers,” Weinberg said in a statement. “The criminal justice system has often failed to account for the violence and abuse they suffered before they acted in defense or retaliation. In many cases they have paid the price with long jail terms that took them away from their families and communities.”

Participants in the program would not simply be cut loose. Instead, they would need to meet conditions from corrections authorities, undergo training and develop a plan for leaving prison, according to the bill.

“Making the transition back to society can be difficult, but it is more likely to succeed if they are guided with supervision and support,” Weinberg said.

The senator recently met with inmates at the state’s Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women along with filmmaker Yoav Potash, whose documentary “Crime After Crime” brought attention to abused women serving prison time.

“Most female inmates have been the victims of physical or sexual abuse and for many of them their only crimes have been against those who harmed them,” Weinberg said. “After years of incarceration, they need the re-entry help. As victims themselves, they deserve it.”