Entry Lessons: The Stories of Women Fighting for Their Place, Their Children, and Their Futures After Incarceration

by Jorja Leap

“A call to action … A reminder of the beautiful resilience of formerly incarcerated women and a celebration of all that they have to offer.” —Susan Burton, author of Becoming Ms. Burton and founder of A New Way of Life

Urgent and empathetic, Entry Lessons is one of the first examinations of the lasting impact of incarceration on women and their families

Recent reports show that women make up the fastest-growing population within the United States’ criminal justice system. And yet, despite necessary conversations about incarceration and prison abolition, their stories of abuse, neglect, poverty, and family separation often go untold. Now, through immersive storytelling and expert analysis of women’s lives after prison, anthropologist Jorja Leap explores their journeys into, through, and beyond the jail cell.

In these pages, you’ll meet women

–Ivy and Janet, accused of murder, whose intertwined stories of childhood harm, domestic abuse, and gang violence unfold throughout the book
–Denise, who confronts the lasting impact of her childhood sexual trauma as she struggles with relationships and the realities of homelessness
–Rosa, a survivor of sex trafficking whose relationship with her mother—her trafficker—is fraught with conflicting feelings she works to resolve
–Carmen, whose search for love ultimately endangers not just her life but also the lives of her children
–Clara, who survived placement in the child welfare system only to experience having her own children sent to foster care
–Angela and Ronnie, two women navigating the complexities of sexuality and queerness in and out of prison

Leap chisels away at superficial narratives to unearth pasts rife with struggle and oppression. She reveals the sharp edges of reentry and the wounds suffered by these women and their families, exposing a cycle of trauma that powers the revolving door of reentry and reincarceration. And, still,  Entry Lessons  is a book of hope just as much as it is of pain. Leap calls for systemic change through the development of meaningful reentry programs and policies that will have a lasting, life-changing impact on women as they rebuild their lives and especially as they are able to reclaim their children.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology, Adult

288 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2023

Reviews

[sofia martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an amazingly informational book! i read this because my professor wrote it and has assigned it for class and i am so grateful for this. my love for women runs so deep and learning about their struggles in and out of prison makes me all the more ready to pursue my therapy career so i can help as many ladies as i can. the broad discussion of attachment and love running throughout the book was especially important to me as i love to understand how human connection can both weaken and rehabilitate people. this has been a true nudge in the right direction as i really need to continue to read about real life experiences that people have endured so i can be as educated as possible about how to communicate w every individual without seeming ignorant or condescending.

[Sara Cortes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this book for class and it was actually written by my professor. Among teaching me many concrete things about the law and the lack of services tailored to incarcerated women, this book taught me how to be empathetic and how to practice non-judgement and acceptance towards the incarcerated.

[Aletta Joy]

This book was intriguing. I had a hard time putting it down in between talking with my clients. I have worked with individuals coming out of the system and their struggles are real and its hard to "re-enter" the swing of life outside the bars. I read this book and it reminded me why I wanted to be a counselor in the first place and why I always have felon friendly resources at my finger tips.

[Mary Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I work in this field. It confirmed my own findings, and opened up new ideas and resources to research further. Thank you for a wonderful, important read.

[Stephano Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

it’s become axiomatic for contemporary authors to make their own points through the voices and anecdotes of ppl they know. rarely does a book - as this one does - actually manage to allow those people to tell their own stories. I picked this up because I’m also an advocate in an adjacent space. I often feel like I already “know it all.” this book taught me a lot. I’ll be picking up whatever else the author has written.

[periwinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

gained an invaluable insight on what challenges low-income, incarcerated, and formerly incarcerated women face, along with the obstacles they face dealing with abusive and co-dependent familial and romantic relationships. shines the light on the failures and neglectful nature of the criminal justice system that works against women struggling with intersectional identities of gender, race, and class. must read for everyone