Pro-Choice Washington believes in the right of all people to maintain their personal bodily autonomy – no matter the circumstances. But for the nearly 14,000 individuals incarcerated in our state, that autonomy can be nearly impossible to maintain.
People who are arrested and incarcerated lose many of their human rights, including control over their own health and reproductive care – whether accessing menstrual products, pregnancy or abortion care, or gender-affirming services. They also lose freedom from forced sterilization or pregnancy coercion and the ability to parent their children with dignity.
The state’s control over their bodies mirrors the same systems that seek to control reproductive choices outside prison walls.
At Pro-Choice Washington, we believe all people deserve to live in environments that recognize their humanity and allow them to make life-affirming decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities.
What is the Black Prisoner’s Caucus?
The Black Prisoner’s Caucus (BPC) is a multi-chapter organization formed by incarcerated individuals across Washington prisons to advocate for social justice. The BPC builds community and supports solutions that improve autonomy and access for people impacted by the criminal legal system.
Their vision reflects reproductive justice values: every person deserves self-determination, dignity, and the resources to make choices about their lives, families, and futures.
Advocacy in Action
The BPC chapter at Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) in Walla Walla created a space to connect with one another and express themselves through art.
Despite having little political power as incarcerated people, BPC members work to educate the public about voting rights, civic education, fair pay, and the end of forced labor for prisoners. They also advocate for greater police accountability and community-based solutions to keep youth out of the criminal legal system.
The group highlights the realities of the school-to-prison pipeline and advocates for second-chance review for youth serving extreme sentences.
Working in Partnership: The Inmate Art Show
As part of our regional work in Walla Walla, Pro-Choice Washington connected with a local activist working with the BPC and was invited to participate in their Inmate Art Show.
Hosted this past June at Cedar Rain Spirits, the show featured artwork by a dozen incarcerated artists. For many, creating art was an act of self-love, healing, and connection.
Because the artists could not attend in person, each piece was paired with a recorded statement from the artist explaining its meaning. Visitors listened through headphones as the artists shared their stories and creative processes.
During the reception, phone calls between the artists and attendees offered a rare chance for direct connection – and revealed the daily barriers incarcerated people face in reaching the outside world.
Sankofa bird on canvas using acrylic.
“For me, hearing it from these guys directly, it was like, they all have a mama; they all have families,” shared Chris Smith, Pro-Choice Washington’s Operations Manager, who attended the event. “They all have other people who are affected by this experience.”
Why This Work Matters
Reproductive freedom cannot exist without the full bodily autonomy of all people – inside and outside prison walls. Our work at Pro-Choice Washington aligns with the BPC’s advocacy for incarcerated people, especially those from Black and Brown communities.
Mass incarceration is rooted in systemic racism and our society’s failure to provide equitable access to healthcare, housing, and economic opportunity. These same inequities limit access to reproductive health care and choice, making the fights for reproductive justice and criminal legal reform inseparable.
Bodily autonomy means having the right and ability to make decisions about one’s body and health in safe, sustainable communities. This includes the right to vote and to participate fully in shaping the systems that govern our lives.
When we support the rights of the most marginalized people and work together to break cycles of harm, we move closer to a world where everyone can thrive.
Learn More and Support the Black Prisoner’s Caucus
To learn more about the BPC, listen to the Concrete Mama Podcast to hear directly from incarcerated members at the Washington State Penitentiary.
You can also follow the official partner of the BPC at WSP, The Sankofa Migration, on Instagram or sign up for their mailing list via [email protected].
