Daughters is a new magazine edited by Sarita Miller in collaboration with Let’s Get Free. The first issue was published in December of 2020. Due to printing and shipping troubles our community on the inside just started receiving their copies last month. It’s a wild success!
You can download the first issue here.
Message from the Editor
God bless you everyone! Hello, my name is Sarita Miller. I’m so humbled that you are reading our very first issue of Daughters, and when I say ours I mean every incarcerated woman who is enduring the hardships and the oppression of being imprisoned. Whether it be the brig of our minds or our bodies held in confinement, the number of women coming into the penal system is staggering. What are our issues? What are our struggles? How are we perceived as women serving time? Are we being identified by the meaning of re-formation and strength or by our circumstantial vulnerabilities at the time of our crimes?
Serving this life sentence for 17 years has given me a priceless experience and a sound perspective on the multicultural epidemic of women being incarcerated. Almighty God has given me the vision to believe in the power our written voices will have on those who can and want to make a difference in our lives. I believe Daughters can be that outreach for us. Throughout my time, I have heard a multitude of complaints from my peers relating to gender bias within the criminal justice system and the Department of Corrections. Most incarcerated women have expressed concerns that our needs within the DOC are not being met, but are instead overlooked or just plainly ignored.
Compared to our male counterparts, our medical needs are different. Our housing issues are different as well, especially when it comes to dealing with male officers who work on our housing units. Our psychological and mental health issues are distinct since a lot of women coming into the prison system are mothers dealing with the traumas of sexual abuse, battering and drug addiction. Even our nutritional issues are different. As women age in prison, going through the change of life, this is only scratching the surface of the challenges we face being incarcerated. So ladies I invite and implore you to make your needs and concerns heard through Daughters. Teamwork makes the dream work!!
Finally a publication just for us! Much love and appreciation for the awesome support from Let’s Get Free! etta, thank you for believing in Daughters and stepping out in faith with me. I’d also like to send out my appreciation and gratitude to the wonderful ladies who have helped to make the first issue of Daughters a reality. God bless you Heather Lavelle, Nahesa Gray, Trisha Dippery, and Angela Hellman. To Stephanie M and Andrea Dusha for their amazing artwork and for designing the cover of Daughters. Without your willing participation, Daughters would not be a reality
Giant shout-outs to our men who are also enduring the vicissitudes of incarceration. You are also invited to write to Daughters. Thank you to our soldiers who have paved the way. God bless you!
Sarita Miller, #OJ3158, SCI Muncy
Contact: Daughters ℅ Let’s Get Free 460 Melwood Ave #300 Pittsburgh, PA 15213
2 replies on “Daughters Magazine”
I was very moved by Sarita & her story. I really, really hope she gets a 2nd chance.
Women have to put up with being considered inferior in almost all aspects of our lives & I’m afraid that’s especially true for women prisoners. I wish Sarita the best of luck because she’s clearly a good & very bright woman. Go Sarita!
Love Daughters Magazine! I plan to co-write an article with my daughter for an upcoming issue.