Prison Lifer to Life Coach. Daniel interviews Norma, Released Into Captivity’s first woman guest. Norma talks about her desire to build a relationship with her newborn son while incarcerated. They talk about first, second and third draws, Christmas pastry shortages, release dates (Adrian Vasquez chimes in), and correctional counselors. Norma served a 15 to life +4 sentence. She fought a murder for 2 years and was released on bail. She was offered a manslaughter plea but turned it down to go to trial and she lost. California currently has two and half women’s prisons (Chowchilla, California Institute for Women (CIW) and 400 beds at New Folsom) compared to 33 men’s prisons. Daniel talks about how he stopped at CIW en route to a court hearing from CRC to Riverside. They discuss comparing their cases to the cases of other inmates. Most women doing time are not the primary assailant in their cases but rather co-defendants. Adrian explains the felony murder statute in California. Norma believes women stay with men doing time but men leave. Norma received an AS degree thanks to a pilot program sponsored by Warden Dawn Davidson.  Heidi Rummell was Norma’s attorney and the day after this recording Norma and Heidi went to CIW to perform mock board hearings with women. Heidi and Norma are very close friends now. Gum not allowed in prison and the Lawrence case, Doc Miller, Joe Wasco, fighting to get out and fighting when we get out, Norma’s son earns a purple heart in Afghanistan, he now works at a non-profit. Norma gets out with three day notice. She struggles with who to trust and feeling like she does not fit into the world. Daniel speaks about seeing the women at CRC not having much property. Norma misses a phone call and the caller. Adrian and Daniel joke about Dave Chappelle’ Rick James episode. Women lifers separate themselves from non-lifers to protect their feelings. Norma gets released after 18 years and her son was in boot camp and did not see him until a year later. Norma now speaks on different panels to help women. Norma talks about prison equipping her with the unique ability to deal with many different kinds of people interpersonally. Getting too “freeworld”.

www.releasedintocaptivity.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Released2cptvty

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Releasedintocaptivity/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/releasedintocaptivity/

Email Daniel: danielh@releasedintocaptivity.com

Email Carlos: carlosc@releasedintocaptivity.com