Criminal Justice

Checking In With VOW Narrators: Where Are They Now?
Relationship building and co-creation with narrators and project partners are key to an ethical storytelling process. Recently, we checked in with two of VOW’s longterm collaborators to hear what they’ve been up to. Luz Hernandez …


Women’s History Month: Amplifying Oral Histories from Women’s Prisons
For Women’s History Month this March, Voice of Witness is featuring Inside This Place, Not of It: Narratives from Women’s Prisons, a book in our oral history series. Through eye-opening personal narratives, the book shares …


14 Racial Justice Organizations To Support During Black History Month and Every Month
In the United States, the month of February is recognized as Black History Month. Celebrating Black History Month is an opportunity to highlight the work of important Black leaders and milestones in racial justice movements. …


Unheard Voices of the Pandemic: New Booklet Shares Narratives of Injustice During COVID-19
The new Unheard Voices of the Pandemic booklet is out today! Order the book here. When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in early 2020, early media coverage characterized the disease as a “great equalizer.” As …


VOW Response to Chauvin Conviction: More Work Ahead
Derek Chauvin has been found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Last year, the death of George Floyd, a Black man, at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers led to national …


Honoring Theresa Martinez, VOW Narrator and Human Rights Advocate
Voice of Witness mourns the loss of Theresa Martinez, a narrator in VOW’s book Inside This Place, Not of It: Narratives from Women’s Prisons. Spending years in and out of prison, Theresa became a fierce …


Resources for Learning About and Taking Action Against Racism and Police Violence
Voice of Witness reiterates our full solidarity with Black communities and allies protesting against police brutality, mass incarceration, and the racial injustice inseparable from this country’s history and institutions. We demand accountability and justice for …


The VOW Story Lab: 2 New Projects!
We are thrilled to introduce two new oral history projects incubating in our Story Lab: The Digital Welfare State and From Incarceration to Reentry. The VOW Story Lab is a unique opportunity for storytellers working …