Feminist Circles
At the Jailhouse Lawyer Initiative, we believe that justice cannot be fully realized unless it is inclusive, nurturing, and rooted in care. Noticing a profound absence of women’s voices in legal empowerment spaces—particularly those led by incarcerated people—JLI decided to take action.
Feminist Circles emerged as our response: an intentional, sacred space co-created with national and international women organizers to support, protect, and uplift incarcerated women, jailhouse lawyers, and justice advocates. These Circles are not just conversations—they are living, breathing ecosystems where healing, resistance, legal knowledge, and sisterhood grow side by side.
We envision Feminist Circles as gardens behind the walls—places where our sisters inside are watered, nourished, and protected as they grow into their full power. And we, outside the walls, are like petals stretching toward the light, connecting and expanding these Circles into wider constellations of women across prison walls, state lines, and global borders.
As the voices of incarcerated women are cultivated and raised, we believe they will not only transform legal conversations inside prison but also reshape our collective movement. By centering the stories, strategies, and brilliance of women—especially those long silenced or overlooked—we are deepening JLI’s commitment to liberation, community care, and radical inclusion.
Feminist Circles are a reminder that the law is not only a battleground, but also a garden. And we are the ones tending it—together.
of two of our members, Brendalyn and Kenya, in which they discuss their work as jailhouse lawyers, the role of women in justice advocacy from the inside, and their experiences in learning, using, and shaping the law.
Past Circles
- January 2023:
- February 2023:
- March 2023:
- May 2023:
- June 2023:
- August 2023:
- September 2023:
- October 2024:
Zines capturing all previous circles can be .
To stay in touch about future feminist circles, please
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