Know Your
Reproductive
Rights
In Prison
A powerful resource guide for healthcare access and decision making during incarceration — built with, by, and for incarcerated communities.
The Fight for Reproductive Justice Doesn't Stop at the Prison Gate
Between 1909 and 1964, California sterilized approximately 20,000 people in state-run institutions. Coercive sterilizations never stopped — from 2005–2013, at least 794 people in state prisons underwent procedures that could have resulted in sterilization.
After decades of advocacy — including landmark lawsuits, media investigations, and organizing by survivors — California passed SB1135 in 2014 and AB 137 in 2021, establishing the nation's first forced sterilization compensation program. But the fight is not over.
This booklet grew directly from years of community-led research, survivor testimony, and legal advocacy. It is a tool of resistance — so that every incarcerated person has the knowledge to demand the care they deserve.
Everything You Need to Advocate for Yourself
From your legal right to healthcare to specific guidance on pregnancy, cancer screenings, birth control, sterilization, and menopause — backed by real California laws and co-designed by people who've been inside.
Art as Resistance
Every illustration in this booklet was created to honor the dignity and strength of incarcerated people. The artwork brings warmth and humanity to every page — centering the beauty of bodies that have too often been controlled, harmed, or erased.
Illustrations by
- Vegas Bray
- Laura Purviance
- Christina Miramontes
- Maite Ismena Wallace
Graphic Design
- Såhi Velasco
Translator (Spanish edition)
- Marilyn Fabiola
Built By Community, For Community
This booklet would not exist without the labor, courage, and expertise of the people named below — especially those who did this work from inside prison walls. Their contributions are not incidental; they are the foundation of everything.
✊ PARLP Cohort 3 — Community Researchers
These four incarcerated researchers at the Central CA Women's Facility conducted outreach, analyzed interviews and survey data, identified key themes, and co-designed the booklet's content and illustrations — all from inside. Their labor is the heart of this project.
"This booklet became more than an informational resource — it is a tool for advocacy and empowerment, equipping incarcerated individuals with the knowledge to assert their reproductive rights while exposing the systemic failures of carceral healthcare."
Research With People, Not On Them
This booklet was built through the ACROSS BARS project — a genuine academic-community partnership grounded in Participatory Action Research (PAR), led in part by incarcerated community researchers inside the Central CA Women's Facility.
Know the Laws That Protect You
Order or Read Free Online
The print edition can be mailed directly to incarcerated people. A Spanish-language edition is in development and coming soon. Share this resource widely — knowledge is power.
Access the Booklet
Buy the physical booklet, download a free PDF, read the interactive flip-book online, or send a copy to someone who needs it.
