RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — In a small room inside the Richmond City Justice Center, hair stylists and makeup artists work their magic. Dresses, skirts and blouses replace the jumpsuits usually worn by seven women. They can barely contain themselves.
“I haven’t seen my mother and them in a couple of years due to my addiction, and I’m just so excited and want to see ’em,” says Patricia Powell.
Her mother, sister and two nephews are expected in just minutes. Now 50, Powell has spent her adult life in and out of the system. With five state prison sentences and dozens of drug charges behind her, Powell says this year she is spending in the Richmond jail is it. She enrolled in a new program for women that aims to repair their families torn apart by crime.
Christina Askew has not seen her adult children Alysha and Justin for fifteen months. She is serving time for cocaine possession and a probation violation for the same charge.
“Touch ’em, smell ’em, hold ’em,” Askew says about what she looks forward to the most. “It’s just been really excited. It’s such a blessing.”
To get to this day, the seven women completed a 28-hour Motherhood Support Group and Class offered for the first time in the Richmond jail. It is based on the jail’s Fatherhood Initiative, which tackles challenges faced by entire families when a loved one serves time. Each participant learns the key to loving others is loving themselves first.
“They are somebody, they are special,” Sheriff C.T. Woody explains a main goal. “If they love and respect themselves, they won’t come back in here.”
With lessons learned, the doors finally open. Their children, mothers and other loved ones come in one by one. Hugs and tears are signs of their brighter futures together.
“I think it’s a good Christmas bonus for her to get for the holidays,” Askew’s son Justin Jay says as he hugs her. “To finish the program up and getting another step towards fixing her life permanently.”
With all the joy, there is disappointment too. While six of the women catch up with their loved ones during a special tea party, Powell stands alone. Her family members said they would come, but they are not here.
“It hurts, but it’s gonna be okay,” she says with tears in her eyes.
“Although they didn’t show up, I’m not sure why. We’ve called and haven’t gotten an answer, really heartbreaking,” observes Dr. Sarah Scarbrough, the Richmond Sheriff’s Office Internal Program Director. “She is still able to be here with her sisters that are in the program and have a day when really you forget that you’re an inmate.”
That is what this program aims to do for each woman: serve time and get out, realizing irreplaceable bonds and how they can each be better people.
“This is a new me. A fresh start to get it right and keep it right,” says Powell.
Adds Askew, “This has just been a wonderful Christmas for me.”
To learn more about this new initiative and two women in the program, click this link.
