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INDIANA DEPT. OF CORRECTION
Indiana Government Center South
302 W Washington St E334
Indianapolis, IN 46204
www.in.gov/idoc
FOR RELEASE: Upon Receipt
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IDOC staff and incarcerated women work together
to discuss gender-specific barriers
Rockville, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Correction’s Hoosier Initiative for Re-Entry (HIRE) held a panel discussion focused on female empowerment for the incarcerated women at the Rockville Correctional Facility on March 11, 2021. The Female Empowerment Panel (FEP) lead by several staff and administrators of the IDOC and a group of incarcerated women discussed the challenges released women will face as they reintegrate back into their communities. On the list of the items discussed were barriers of equal pay, housing, education, and their own personal expectations.
HIRE is hosting the three-panel discussion as a way to create “a Female Empowerment/Barrier Busting Module” to incorporate into their re-entry academy for the incarcerated female population and a female-driven workshop for the Parole Offices for those who are already released.
Carrie Heck, Director of Hire said, “I am hoping this will spur more help for the female population and help IDOC/HIRE to be more proactive in our approach to our female population. We want to be super proactive to create more positive outcomes for our female clients.”
This first panel included IDOC Executive Staff, Facility Deputy Wardens, and soon-to-be-released women engaging in dialogue to help build future programing. Deputy Commissioner of Diversity and Development Angela Sutton said, “The first Women’s Empowerment Panel was more successful and productive than I could’ve imagined. The ladies at RTC were open and honest, and they provided us with valuable feedback that IDOC can use to improve the re-entry process for females preparing to return to the community.”
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DC Sutton believes that the diversity of the group to include age, length of time incarcerated, racial makeup, and the wealth of knowledge of the ladies added to the success of the panel. DC Sutton continued, “I look forward to the opportunities that the Women’s Empowerment Panel will bring to IDOC. “
HIRE is planning on hosting the second of three FEP’s next month at another women’s facility. Director Heck is excited for the possibilities of learning more from her client base, “we want our in-facility clients to know we are here to help them create successes for themselves and their families and know that the support does not end when they leave the facility.”
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