I went with some colleagues today on a tour of the Raleigh Women’s Correctional Facility. It was one of the most “mixed feelings” experiences I’d ever had.

I walked in there having decided two things: first, that I’d smile at every inmate I made eye contact with; second, that I’d say “Wa alaikum assalam” to any of the Muslim inmates who called out to greet me (if there were any). I also was a bit apprehensive because…well….it’s a prison.

I had done some research for work about women’s correctional facilities, but I still wasn’t really sure what to expect. TV skews your perceptions of things – and indeed, the first thing the Deputy Warden, the two caseworkers, and the officer who walked us around said was – “This is nothing like what you see on TV.”

The Dep. Warden told us that it was more like a college campus, and that prison didn’t necessarily mean jail cells and handcuffs, but not being able to do what you wanted to do at any particular time. I couldn’t believe it was like a college campus, but then when we walked into the yard – it was true. It really was like a quad, with women walking around pretty freely, some reading, listening to music, talking. They were wearing different color uniforms according to the length of their sentence, but they were not chained or confined in any way. This was surprising and heartening. The facility is mixed, all the way from really minor crimes to four women on death row. I guess I expected armed guards walking around and really severe restrictions on anything that could be used as a weapon – but one woman had some crutches, many had headphones. I was happy that these women weren’t living in a violent environment where a fight could break out any second (I’ll write another reflection about the men’s prison next month when we tour there……)

I met two Muslim women while I was there. As we were walking around to the classrooms, vocational areas, and living facilities, a lady called out “Salam Alaikum.” I turned and saw a lady waving at me from one of the buildings, so I smiled and said “Wa Alaikum as-Salam” and waved back. Later, we visited the Tourism center and mail center (apparently, when you call NC Tourism for ideas on where to go, an inmate picks up and helps you! They’re really nice), there was a Muslim lady stuffing brochures into envelopes. She was wearing a nice hijab, and as our group came in she just kept her back turned to us and kept working. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Later, as our group was leaving the room, I asked the case managers if I could go speak to her. They called to her and I walked over to her. Her face split into a big smile and her eyes brightened up. We hugged, and she told me her name. We didn’t really talk about anything, but it was really nice to meet her. I asked the case managers later, and they said that as long as they know of an inmate’s religion beforehand, they accommodate as much as possible. She didn’t have to ask to wear her hijab, there is Jummah prayer at the facility, and they adjust her meal schedule during Ramadan. I was impressed and happy that it was relatively easy for her to practice her religion – they could’ve made it much harder for her.

The whole experience is really depressing, though, despite some of the uplifting things I described above. The pregnant inmates go offsite to deliver, get one day with their babies, and then go back to jail. Phone calls are collect only, and the family might not be able to pay to receive them.

The saddest thing of the whole experience was talking to an 18-year old inmate who was in for second degree murder. She was with her boyfriend when he murdered his grandmother. She said that she had a good family growing up, caring parents, well off, but that she just wanted to rebel – so she started sneaking out and hanging out with her older boyfriend. She was really peppy, bubbly, and said that even though it was hard, she was happy to be there because it was a learning experience for her. She’ll get out when she’s 27. “I have no friends here, but it’s better that way,” she said. It was kind of sad that she was happy with her situation…..but I guess you have to make the best of what you have. She told us that when she gets out, she wants to help youth not make the same mistakes she did.

My biggest hope for these women is that they get out of jail and stay out – that they get jobs and reconnect with their families in a meaningful way. The warden (plus my own research) explained that most of them have drug addictions – so I hope that their time in jail helps them overcome it. Most of all, I hope I don’t forget the women I met, because they deserve to be remembered.

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