Creating Community for Incarcerated Sex Workers
A chapter of the Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP)The Mission of Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP) Behind Bars
SWOP Behind Bars is a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of people who face discrimination from the criminal justice system due to the stigma associated with the sex industry. We advocate for the full decriminalization of adult consensual sex work and the ending of cash bail. We draw attention to the effects of generational poverty on sexualized violence against marginalized and vulnerable populations, especially women, people of color, the LGBTQIA+ community, people who use drugs, people with disabilities, and people living with HIV. Using a harm reduction framework, we provide services and support with a focus on ending violence and stigma through education and advocacy.
What Does SWOP Behind Bars Do?
Since the inception of SWOP Behind Bars (SBB) in May 2016, SWOP Behind Bars has sent out over 25,000 newsletters to prisoners in 14 states. We have coordinated over 2,000 pen pals. We have coordinated more than 20,000 books through Amazon Wishlists, 3,000 book donations to prison libraries, and approximately 450 GED self-study guides to prisoners and prison libraries. We have funded 12 college level scholarships and presented at human rights conferences and rallies. We have provided reentry support for 120 recently released prisoners and we have published a reentry guide to help incarcerated people transition back to their community. We have fiscally sponsored 4 other like-minded organizations. We have a diverse Board of Directors that includes people who have been incarcerated or are still incarcerated. We support men, women, and trans folks.
Find out why SWOP is “Behind Bars”
10 Facts about 2019 Taxes
Any individual who files a 2019 tax return and made LESS THAN 75K in 2019 will get a stimulus check for $1200. Any couple who files a 2019 tax return and made LESS THAN 150K will get a stimulus check for $2400. If you have a child - and qualify as the guardian...
Woodhull and SWOP Behind Bars Sex Worker Support Fund
I know we are all doing our best to take care of ourselves and our families and elders. Like you, I'm worried. I'm worried about my family and friends in my beloved New York City and Texas. And I'm worried about the sex workers that I know, whose work, health,...
Ten Things to Know about the IRS COVID 19 Stimulus Package
--Alex Andrews If you are a US citizen, filing a tax return is a process that a lot of us put off to the last minute and it's not unusual for someone who is making very little income to not even bother to file. Many senior citizens, folks who are on disability or...
A Public Statement on Coronavirus and Mass Incarceration
One Voice: The Impact of Coronavirus on Incarcerated People, their Families, and Their Communities. INTRODUCTION Coronavirus is here and it is not leaving any time soon. The Federal government has no unified strategy. The White House flippantly minimizes warnings that...
10 Ways to Help Sex Workers Survive the COVID 19 Virus
Sent to SBB newsletter on 3/22/20 by SBB director Alex Andrews: You would have to be living under a rock in order to not know that COVID 19 has become a threat to the lives of everyone on the planet. We are trying our best to stay updated on the latest news from...
‘Be Careful Who You Treat Like Shit’: a Former Porn Star Sues Her School
Appears on Vice.com Former porn actor Nicole Gilliland sues her Oregon nursing school after harassment. She was a star student until the school discovered she had worked in porn and began setting her up to fail. The ordeal caused her to lose custody of her young kids...
