SWOP Behind Bars stories

At SWOP Behind Bars, we don't just talk about justice—we embody it. And let’s be real: in this work, survival alone isn't the goal. We're here for thriving. That means care that's intentional, compassion that's culturally competent, and connection that doesn't vanish when the paperwork's done.

Our team isn’t made up of robots or case numbers—we’re human bein...

Here’s the million-dollar question—and it says more about society’s deep-seated stigma than it ever will about the capability, wisdom, or contributions of sex workers and sex worker rights activists: Why aren’t sex workers being recognized and utilized as powerful tools in the fight for good and evil? It’s a question that should make everyone uncomfortable, because the answer isn’t rooted in a lack of experience, insight, or leader...

On this International Workers' Day, Swap Behind Bars highlights the often-overlooked contributions of sex workers to the labor movement. While rallies and marches pay tribute to labor movements across the globe, sex workers frequently find themselves excluded from these narratives. This episode underscores the simple yet powerful message: sex work is work.

By exploring the diverse forms of labor sex workers engage in, we delve int...

Supply and demand determine the price of goods and services. This is just a fact—and facts matter. High demand or low supply raises prices; low demand or high supply lowers them. Tariffs—taxes on imports—disrupt this balance by artificially increasing the cost of goods and services. 

This basic principle of economics has been proven true since the dawn of time. Yet somehow, it remains an inconvenient truth for End Demand supporters...

This episode delves into the harrowing experiences of Tasha, a pregnant woman incarcerated in a county jail, shedding light on the broader issue of reproductive injustice in U.S. prisons and jails. Tasha's ordeal highlights the systemic neglect and denial of reproductive rights faced by incarcerated women, often subjected to inadequate medical care and forced into shattering decisions without autonomy.

We explore how incarcerated p...

This episode uncovers the harrowing realities of reproductive injustice faced by incarcerated women in the United States. Through the story of Maria, a pregnant woman who endured severe neglect and loss while behind bars, we explore how systemic failures in carceral settings deny women their reproductive rights. Despite condemnation and existing legislation, pregnant prisoners often face shackling, inadequate medical care, and forc...

When we talk about mass incarceration in the United States, the conversation often centers around numbers—how many people are locked up, how long they’ve been there, and what it costs. But behind those numbers are real people, and among them are women whose specific health needs are often ignored, neglected, or misunderstood.

This post kicks off a six-part series examining equity in women’s health care within prisons and jails, ins...

A trauma bond is a strong emotional attachment that develops out of a cycle of abuse, reward, and intermittent validation. It’s often seen in abusive relationships, cults, and manipulative institutions. The bond forms not despite the harm, but because the harm is tangled up with moments of care, dependency, or survival.

In many anti-trafficking spaces today, survivors face a coercive script. They are often nudged—whether by advocat...

In this episode, we delve into the vital role of trust in shaping our organizations and communities. Trust acts like the core operating system, influencing how effectively we organize, collaborate, and care for one another. When trust is low, costs increase, speed decreases, and relationships falter, leading to a systemic breakdown. However, high-trust environments foster speedier decision-making, creativity, and resilience, transf...

The feminist movement has led to profound changes, granting women the right to vote, expanding educational and professional opportunities, and challenging traditional gender norms. These victories, however, were not without their flaws—early efforts often excluded marginalized groups, leaving wage disparities, workplace harassment, and underrepresentation unaddressed. Rather than a failure, feminism and its reluctant willingness to...

In recent decades, the issue of healthcare for incarcerated women has emerged as a critical area of concern. Although prisons and jails strive to provide essential medical services, significant gaps remain—especially during the transition back into society. Women behind bars face unique and complex health challenges that differ significantly from those encountered by their male counterparts, and these differences are compounded by ...

On Wednesday, June 26th, 2024 #JoeyThePlayer, José Olivio Torres was sentenced to 30 years in prison for 4 counts of #SexTrafficking related charges, specifically “enticement” and “coercion” to cross state lines for the purposes of prostitution. No victims or survivors were arrested in the investigation or court proceedings of this case. He was brought to justice by sex workers who came forward and reported his violence to the FBI ...

Generational poverty and environmental issues are deeply intertwined, creating a cycle that perpetuates socioeconomic disparities. Environmental challenges, such as climate change and pollution, disproportionately affect impoverished communities, leading to adverse health outcomes, including compromised sexual and reproductive health. This intersection exacerbates existing inequalities and hinders efforts to break the cycle of pove...

Generational poverty creates significant barriers to sexual health by limiting access to education, healthcare, and economic stability. Individuals born into poverty often face inadequate sex education, restricted access to contraception and reproductive healthcare, and higher rates of sexual exploitation and violence. Systemic inequalities, such as lack of affordable healthcare and stigmatization of marginalized communities, furth...

The Super Bowl has long been a magnet for sensationalized anti-trafficking narratives that often result in the criminalization of consensual adult sex workers and their clients. However, this year in New Orleans marked a shift—there were no arrests of adult consensual workers or their clients under the usual rhetoric. The Sex Worker Super Bowl Bail Out, typically focused on freeing sex workers impacted by these crackdowns, played a...

The Amazon Wishlist Program through SWOP Behind Bars is more than just a means of providing material support—it is a beacon of hope and a gateway to education, self-empowerment, and personal growth for incarcerated sex workers and survivors of trafficking. By offering access to books, learning resources, and essential items tailored to individual needs, this program helps foster opportunities for transformation, even within the res...

Incarceration can be one of the most isolating experiences a person can endure, especially for sex workers and survivors of trafficking. For these individuals, receiving a letter in the mail is more than just a communication—it’s a lifeline, a moment of human connection in an otherwise dehumanizing system. Whether handwritten or sent electronically through secure prison email systems, letters remind people behind bars that they are...