Testimony of Meg Egan, CEO of the Women’s Prison Association, for the Committee on Criminal Justice Preliminary Budget Hearing

March 7, 2025 Good afternoon, my name is Meg Egan, and it is my great honor and privilege to lead the Women’s Prison Association. Chair Nurse and the rest of the members of the committee, I want to thank you for the opportunity to testify before the Criminal Justice Committee today. Throughout its 180-year history,…

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5 Black Female Leaders in the Criminal Justice Reform Movement

In celebration of Black History Month, WPA is highlighting five unforgettable Black female leaders in the criminal justice reform movement. Angela Davis (b. 1944; Birmingham, AL) Angela Davis is a scholar, activist, and author known for her work in civil rights, social justice, and prison abolition. Davis gained national attention in the 1970s when she…

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Books Are Magic is Supporting WPA Through Purchases of Abolitionist and Feminist Books

Books Are Magic is supporting WPA through literature!  For the month of February, 30% of sales from a selection of abolitionist and feminist books will be donated to WPA. All of these books, covering topics such as mass incarceration, capitalism, and racial discrimination, are written by or include the work of BIPOC editors and authors….

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The Rise: Affordable Housing for Formerly Incarcerated People in Brownsville, Brooklyn 

The Women’s Prison Association (WPA) has a long history of driving change to positively impact individuals, families, and communities affected by incarceration. WPA continues this critical work through The Rise, a residential facility located in Brooklyn, New York. Most of the building’s subsidized units are home to formerly incarcerated women and their families, creating a…

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Alternatives to Incarceration Are an Essential Tool to Closing Rikers Island

A new NYC ATI/Reentry Coalition report shows a clear and urgent need to accelerate efforts to close Rikers & expand the use of alternatives to incarceration (ATI), including WPA’s JusticeHome program. “Alternatives to Incarceration are an essential tool to reducing incarceration and, ultimately, closing Rikers Island. But more importantly, they are essential to a safe…

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2024 Impact Report: WPA’s Mission and Accomplishments

Dear Reader,   I am pleased to share the 2024 Impact Report for The Women’s Prison Association, highlighting our mission, our programs, and our successes.  This was a year of positive change for WPA: we saw major headway in the completion of The Rise, our permanent residential facility for formerly incarcerated individuals in Brownsville, Brooklyn; we…

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Women’s Prison Association Appoints Meg Egan As New Chief Executive Officer

The Women’s Prison Association (WPA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Meg Egan as the new Chief Executive Officer starting Monday, September 9, 2024. Meg joins the organization from an esteemed career in the public safety sector, where she has been a visionary leader working on criminal legal system reform, with…

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