Lauren Johnson is a formerly incarcerated person and now a prison rights advocate in the state of Texas. In her interview Johnson talks us through her upbringing in Austin, Texas and how a stream of systematic poverty, drugs, and abuse appeared throughout her life, shaping her adolescence and sense of self, and eventually leading to her incarceration. During her sentence Johnson was pregnant and went through her labor under custody of the prison. She shares how being pregnant had an unique effect on her time in prison while highlighting the hardships incarcerated pregnant women suffer. Johnson then reflects on her advocacy work. This interview took place in the Texas After Violence Project (TAVP) offices in Austin, Texas on June 9, 2017. Note: Transcription for this interview was provided by UT Transcription Services.
Contributor | Contribuidor:
Johnson, Lauren (creator), Texas After Violence Project (contributor), Texas Justice Initiative (contributor), Gossage, Matthew (videographer), Alexander, Ariel (proofreader), and Alexander, Ariel (editor)