Meet a group of women who were formerly incarcerated at Perryville Prison. Now, they are rebuilding their lives at Bridges Reentry, a two-year residential program. These women share how they ended up in prison and the long road toward healing, finding purpose, hope and friendship.
Madison's story of redemption
MADISON PANTER: So my name is Madison Panter. I am 32.
I made some really tough choices in my 20s that weren't good to me, and it led me down a road of addiction, which ended me up in Perryville. And I spent almost six years there.
And then like as the years tick by, you're sober and you start realizing all the things that you've lost and everything you've given up.
You start to feel like, ‘I'm missing out on stuff.’ And I'm not sure if it happens to the men too, but I know it happens to us women. We feel like we're on a time clock for things we should have — like I should be married. I should have a baby.
And it happens to us as being addicts all the time where we have to have stuff right now. That's something that this program has really helped with is it makes you slow down.
I got out February of last year. So I have been free one whole year and some change.
It's crazy to me to think like in a year, I started a business. I got a four-year scholarship. I started talking to my son again. I went to my grandpa's 90th birthday party, and he invited me himself. And I never thought that would happen.
Jennifer's story of hope
JENNIFER HOLLENBECK: My name is Jennifer Hollenbeck. I am 53 years old.
I shoplifted. I was trying to leave an abusive situation and I needed like $300 more dollars to get into the apartment. And then I was still on probation and a year later, my 25-year-old son died and I needed to get money for my half of the ashes or I would not get any part of him. And I stole things again to get that money and I got caught.
Seventeen days after I got out of prison in an area I don't know with no family, my 24-year-old son committed suicide. Another son.
I have been in the house since June of last year. I got into trauma therapy to heal from abuse. I did a three-month support group for grief counseling and life is pretty amazing now. It’s wonderful.
Marta and Amanda's story of friendship
MARTA HAGEMAJER: My name is Marta Hagemajer. I'm 39 years old. I've almost been out of prison a year, and I've been in the program seven months. In my 20s, I began a drug habit which is costly. So I ended up dealing drugs and got caught.
AMANDA RICIO: Amanda Ricio. I took $15,000 from my employer. I did it because I was financially drowning. I did it because I wanted to get sober and I did it to help my kid. Since April 9, me and Marta came together.
MARTA HAGEMAJER: We exited prison the same day ... So, it's destiny. … I was the weirdo on the bench, just sighing because I didn't have a ride. I had to get clothes from a donation bin to get released, and those clothes are hideous.
AMANDA RICIO: You know, I had no clue. I didn’t know her at all.
And she was making noises and I just looked at her. I was like, "Are you OK?" And she's just like, "Yeah, I just have a lot of anxiety." I said, "Well, it's going to be OK, you're getting out, you know, it's going to be fine."
But all I knew is that she was, you know, kind of tripping out when we got released. And I’m just like, "I hope she’s not my roommate."
And then they said, "Well, good. You guys know each other. You guys are roommates."
And I'm just like, "Oh, great." I said, "I have a crazy for a roommate." But she's great. I love her.
MARTA HAGEMAJER: I was excited she was my roommate. I knew I scared her, but I didn't care.
AMANDA RICIO: Marta, she wakes up in the morning with a smile on her face. So that rubbed off on me. So I'm just like, "bah humbug, you know? What are you looking at?" You know, that's me. But not Marta. Marta's just a ray of sunshine.
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A first of its kind collaborative is looking to provide learning opportunities for women who are incarcerated at Estrella Jail, Maricopa County’s only all-female jail. -
Women are a small but growing segment of the state’s prison population, and their needs are distinct. Yet, many of the programs designed to prepare them for release were primarily tailored for men.There are efforts in Arizona aimed at giving incarcerated women a real second chance. -
Last year, Arizona joined a national program aimed at reducing recidivism rates by 30% by 2030 through job training, education and other support. Still, the barriers for formerly incarcerated people are steep — from finding housing and work to staying sober and rebuilding relationships. -
For two hours, students in a Phoenix college class — many studying criminal justice — will try to navigate life after prison. It’s a simulation, but it doesn’t take long to feel real.
