Assistant Professor of Social Work Amber Kelly was instrumental in bringing 3 formerly incarcerated women to campus to share their health care experiences in state and federal prisons.
Beatrice Codianni and Carol Soto, who were incarcerated at the same time as Piper Kerman, author of “Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison,” inspired characters in the book and hit TV show. The women discussed their experiences at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, and offered insight about how their access to, and experiences in, the health care system impacted them during their time inside.
They were joined by Jaclyn Lucibello, who was incarcerated for three years and ultimately gave birth in the York Correctional Institution in Niantic, Connecticut, the state’s only female correctional facility.
The initiative was co-sponsored by Quinnipiac University’s College of Arts and Sciences, School of Health Sciences, School of Law, School of Medicine and School of Nursing, along with other university departments and centers.
Today, Amber Kelly continues to work closely with Beatrice and other formerly incarcerated women through the New Haven Women’s Resettlement Working Group, as well as with incarcerated individuals across Connecticut through Quinnipiac University’s Prison Project.