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 ending 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 25000 newsletters to prisoners in 14 states. We have coordinated over 2000 pen pals. We have coordinated more than 20000 books through Amazon Wishlists, 3000 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”
SWOP Behind Bars Advocacy Toolkit: Florida SB 540/HB 851
Last updated: March 31, 2019. SWOP Behind Bars is calling for heavy revisions to Florida Senate Bill 540 (SB 540) and the House companion bill 851 (HB 851). SWOP Behind Bars will only support these bills if the "Soliciting for Prostitution Registry/Public Database" is...
read moreSWOP Behind Bars Advocacy Toolkit: Florida HB 703/SB 926
SWOP Behind Bars supports Florida House Bill 703 (HB 703) and its counterpart Senate Bill 926 (SB 926) which would greatly expand health education in public schools and repeal the abstinence-only mandate. We also advocate for amending these bills to include human...
read moreSWOP Behind Bars Advocacy Toolkit: Florida HB 259/SB 982
SWOP Behind Bars opposes Florida House Bill 259 (HB 259) and its counterpart Senate Bill 982 (SB 982) because it ties human trafficking education to abstinence-only education. The House version is sponsored by Representatives Williams (District 92) and Plasencia...
read morePA Now Pardons For Free
If you want to get a conviction scrubbed in Pennsylvania, you had better have at least $63 set aside. Eight bucks to download the application. $20 for a criminal background check, another $10 for a driving record, and then a $25 processing fee. At least, that was the case until now. Katie Meyer, WITF March 17, 2019
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Philadelphia In April: Rising Tide. Maternity Care Coalition.
Happening In Philadelphia: A Rising Tide. Maternity Care Coalition. The public face of over-incarceration is overwhelmingly male. However, between 1980 and 2016, the number of incarcerated women in the U.S. increased by more than 700 percent.
read moreSXSW SEX WORK ALLIES AND ORGANIZERS MEET UP IN AUSTIN
Sex Worker Rights Organizers and Allies will be hosting a sex worker organizers and allies meet and greet in Austin on March 10th from 6-9 to write letters to incarcerated sex workers and talk about all the work going on throughout the country regarding the full...
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