Kristin Garbarini

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

Being on the outside, doesn't make us anymore human.

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

Those on the inside are human.

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

Jails are for thinking, for reflection on their past actions and to look for a better future.

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

They aren't treated the way they should be.

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

They are told to hide all their emotions, aren't allowed to mourn any losses.

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

There are no therapy options for women to talk through their issues that they are facing.

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

There is an extreme lack of programming and almost no help for alcohol or drug addicts, that doesn’t include more medication.

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

At the Northampton County Jail, the women have to pay 10 dollars a day for “room and board” in order to live in the jail.

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

Specifically in Northampton County...

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

What do I want people to know about the criminal justice system?

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

At that moment I knew that this was going to be something really special

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

When we enter the room we see that all the chairs are set up in a giant circle, with all the women sitting waiting for us to come in.

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

Walking into the room, I didn’t know what to expect. My heart is beating with every step.

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

We reach the female work release unit, and everything began to change.

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

Things are starting to look up, and I begin to understand what Dr. Bonnie loves about helping these people

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

We reach a female area, some of the women call out to Dr. Bonnie, telling her they enjoyed her class the other night

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

We walk to the yard where the inmates can get “yard time” – a cinder block cold room with a basketball hoop

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

I think to myself, throwing someone in here probably isn’t helping?

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

We walk through a suicide watch cell – a single bed, a toilet, nothing else.

[Kristin Garbarini @OnTheOutside_]

I hear voices yelling out at me, trying to block them out, but the thoughts inside my head I’m more afraid of