NO NEW WOMEN’S PRISON. Now or ever.
We are Families for Justice as Healing and The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. Our mission is to end the incarceration of women and girls.
Our 2025-26 policy priorities are the Prison Moratorium, Elder and Medical Parole, Decriminalizing drugs, and the MA Survivors Act. Read more here.
★WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: bit.ly/nonewprisonvolunteer
★CONTACT: mhanora@justiceashealing.org
URGENT ASKS:
- REGISTER FOR THE ANNUAL #FREEHER MARCH on September 13th to stop the $360 million women’s prison: tinyurl.com/FreeHerMarch2025
- SIGN OUR PETITION AGAINST THE NEW PRISON PLAN: https://bit.ly/NoNewMAPrison
WEEK OF ACTION SCHEDULE:
● MONDAY - Demandclemency
● TUESDAY - Uplift formerly incarcerated women’s opposition to the $360 million women’s prison complex
● WEDNESDAY - Write testimony to support drug decriminalization
● THURSDAY - Sign up to attend our Art Build; or Phone bank
● FRIDAY - Join our Action Hour
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WEDNESDAY - WRITE TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION
The hearing for “An Act Relative to Harm Reduction and Racial Justice” will be held on Monday September 15 at 11am at the State House. This bill would decriminalize all drugs in Massachusetts. The bill to establish overdose prevention centers (safe use sites) will also be heard and we fully support that bill.
We are asking everyone to write and submit testimony to support drug decriminalization and overdose prevention centers and show up to the hearing if you can!
Our testimony toolkit is here: bit.ly/MADecrimToolkit
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TUESDAY - AMPLIFY FORMERLY INCARCERATED WOMEN!
Today, a group of women who survived serving time inside MCI-Framingham delivered a letter to Governor Healey asking her to STOP the $360 million women’s prison complex and meet with the most directly impacted women about a different path forward. The letter asks the Governor to focus on pathways home for women, supporting women’s reentry, and ensuring women’s basic dignity. Our team also dropped this letter off at every single legislator’s office!
Today we are asking people to amplify the demands of women who survived time inside MCI-Framingham so we can build a better future in Massachusetts!
★ Read and share the letter with 3 friends
Read what formerly incarcerated women have to say about the $360 million women’s prison project: bit.ly/FraminghamSurvivorsLetter
Can you share this with 3 friends and invite them to the FreeHer March on Saturday being led by these formerly incarcerated women? tinyurl.com/FreeHerMarch2025
★ Email the Governor’s office
Make sure that the Governor knows her constituents support the leadership and vision of formerly incarcerated women who know from firsthand experience we DO NOT NEED a $360 million women’s prison complex!
Example script: “Dear Governor Healey, my name is ________________ and I live in ______________________. I am reaching out because I want you to know that your plan to build a $360 million women’s prison is out of touch with what your constituents need. I’m aware that women inside MCI-Framingham and women who have come home from Framingham do not support your plan, and neither do I. I do not want you to use my tax dollars to fund prison construction.
I oppose your plan because…
Instead of spending $360 million on a women’s prison complex, we need to invest in…
★ Contact your legislators
Legislators could pause the $360 million women’s prison project by passing the Jail and Prison Construction Moratorium. Make sure your legislators read the letter written by women who served time inside MCI-Framingham and ask them to pass the Prison Moratorium ASAP!
Find out who your legislators are here.
Example script: “Hello my name is _______________ and I am a constituent. I am reaching out to share a letter written by women who survived time inside MCI-Framingham. You can read it here: bit.ly/FraminghamSurvivorsLetter
Formerly incarcerated women are deeply aware of the conditions inside Framingham and still oppose the governor’s plan to build a $360 million women’s prison. I also oppose moving forward with this plan right now because ____________________. Please pass the Jail and Prison Construction Moratorium as soon as possible to pause this expensive and misguided plan.
Before using my tax dollars to fund a massive prison project, I want our state to focus on practical steps to release more women from prison and invest in alternatives and reentry support. People in our district need _____________________not new prison buildings. Thank you.”
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MONDAY - TAKE ACTION ON CLEMENCY!
Today, a multi-faith group of faith leaders from across the state delivered a letter to Governor Healey calling on her to use her clemency powers to release incarcerated women. While she has granted some pardons, she has failed to release any people from prison. Governor Healey’s own clemency guidelines say that clemency should be a “vital part of the criminal justice system”, and a tool for “correcting legal errors, righting systemic wrongs, addressing historical injustices, exercising compassion, showing mercy, promoting equity, and fighting racism.” When will she make good on this commitment to compassion and justice?
The demand for clemency is CRITICAL as the Governor controls the future of MCI-Framingham. She MUST consider women for clemency BEFORE any further construction planning!
You can learn more about clemency here - including a diagram about how clemency works.
Join us in amplifying the call for clemency today - especially for Ms. Nancy Netto whose petition was recently filed. Ms. Netto is a beloved incarcerated elder who has served over thirty years after being convicted of felony murder - meaning she did not cause any physical harm to anyone herself. She is aging, disabled, chronically ill, and needs relief from her suffering. Free Nancy!
★ Call Governor Healey
Call Governor Healey’s constituent services line today BEFORE 5 pm and make sure she knows her constituents support clemency and oppose the $360 million women’s prison complex.
(617)-725-4000
Example script : “Hello my name is __________, and I live in _________________. I am calling today to urge you to use your clemency powers to release incarcerated people, especially those who are aging, sick, and have served decades of time including Ms. Nancy Netto whose petition was recently filed. I believe clemency promotes hope, compassion, justice, and equity, and that’s good for all of us. I’m asking you to use clemency to release women from MCI-Framingham before continuing with any women’s prison construction planning.”
*Please feel free to personalize your message by sharing why clemency is important to you, why you believe in clemency, and why you oppose building the $360 million women’s prison complex. Using your unique voice will help this action make the most impact!
★ Call and Email your Governor’s Councilor
The Governor’s Council is a group of eight elected officials who give the Governor “advice and consent” - which means they are tasked with approving judge and parole board nominations as well approving the Governor’s clemency decisions. Call and email your Governor’s Councilor today and express your support for clemency.
You can find out who your Governor’s Councilor is by filling out this quick form or finding your town on this list.
The contact information for every Governor’s Councilor is here. We encourage you to both call and email!
Example script: “Hello my name is __________ and I am your constituent. I am contacting you today to let you know that clemency is important to me because….
I hope you will call on the Governor to prioritize and expedite her consideration of all pending clemency petitions. Clemency should be a vital part of the criminal justice system and a tool to address injustice and suffering. I hope you will approve these clemency petitions, especially people who are aging and sick, including Ms. Nancy Netto. Our state should not be planning the construction of a $360 million prison complex for women without first considering those women for clemency. Thank you.”
*Please personalize your message! Using your unique voice will help this action make the most impact!