On January 17, 2014, Sister Eli decided not to go to a party because she was too pregnant. Three years later, she was taking a plea deal for something she hadn't done that night—to avoid a three-to-ten year prison sentence. This is the story of how the criminal justice system can come crashing down on an innocent woman like a wave and make it very hard for her to come up for air.

Big thanks to Sister Eli, Somil Trivedi, and Diana McHugh at the Women’s Prison Association for making this episode possible!

WANT TO HELP?!

*Sign Sister Eli’s change.org petition for better conditions at her husband’s prison: https://www.change.org/p/ned-lamont-more-recreational-time-for-cheshire-ci?redirect=false

*Follow the race for Manhattan’s next District Attorney (aka main prosecutor aka one of the most influential jobs in law enforcement)!!! This job has the potential to REALLY make a difference when it comes to mass incarceration, coercive plea deals, and more: https://www.thecity.nyc/2021/1/31/22253418/what-you-need-to-know-about-new-yorks-district-attorney-races-in-2021

*Donate to the Women’s Prison Association—if you become a quarterly or monthly donor and put “Criminal Broads” in the details section, you’ll get a free tote!: https://www.wpaonline.org/donate/

*…and the ACLU: https://action.aclu.org/give/fight-back-against-attacks-our-civil-liberties-multistep

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Support the podcast:

patreon.com/criminalbroads

Follow on Instagram: Instagram.com/criminalbroads

Find sources here: https://www.criminalbroads.com/sources/episode48

Editor: Jennifer Longworth of Bourbon Barrel Podcasting

Music: Stereodog Productions (Dan Pierson & Peter Manheim). Intro and conclusion: “Guilty” by Richard A. Whiting, Harry Akst, and Gus Kahn, sung by Anna Telfer. 

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