© 2024 WYSO
Our Community. Our Nation. Our World.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Women's Voices From Dayton Correctional Institution

Women's Voices From DCI - Logo 1
Juliet Fromholt
/
WYSO

The U.S. has the largest prison population of any nation and in the past three decades women have become the fastest growing segment of prisoners, double the rate of men. Between 1980 and 2006 the population of women in prison has jumped 800%, due primarily to the government’s war on drugs.

The prison system is scrambling to house this influx of incarcerated women. In 2011 the Dayton Correctional Institution became the third women’s prison in Ohio, when it was changed from a 500-bed male facility to a women’s prison currently housing over 900 inmates.

In the this hour you’ll hear a collection of intimate, first-hand accounts from incarcerated women as they talk to each other about the unique struggles female inmates face, as Women’s Voices from the Dayton Correctional Institution takes you inside the prison.

Produced and mixed by former WYSO managing editor Lewis Wallace and Community Voices producer Renee Wilde, with volunteer support from Community Voices graduate Dr. Venita Kelley, editorial oversight from general manager Neenah Ellis and production and design help from webmaster Juliet Fromholt.  Students who participated in WYSO's class at the prison were Shannon Evans, Alisha Federici, LaShae Landry, Diana Linz, Tyra Patterson, Or'Zaria Slaton, Nikkia Sullivan, Lana Williams, Melody Williams and Aimee Wissman.

Renee Wilde was part of the 2013 Community Voices class, allowing her to combine a passion for storytelling and love of public radio. She started out as a volunteer at the radio station, creating the weekly WYSO Community Calendar and co-producing Women’s Voices from the Dayton Correctional Institution - winner of the 2017 PRINDI award for best long-form documentary. She also had the top two highest ranked stories on the WYSO website in one year with Why So Curious features. Renee produced WYSO’s series County Lines which takes listeners down back roads and into small towns throughout southwestern Ohio, and created Agraria’s Grounded Hope podcast exploring the past, present and future of agriculture in Ohio through a regenerative lens. Her stories have been featured on NPR, Harvest Public Media and Indiana Public Radio.