The death of Kacie’s incarcerated father pushes her to advocate for others in similar situations.
Imagine the shock of finding out your dad was serving time in jail hundreds of miles away from home. Now, imagine being told he died while behind bars.
That’s what happened to me and my family exactly one week before Christmas in 2007.
I don’t often talk about my father’s death, as I’m still processing it all these years later. However, I believe it’s my duty to use my painful experience to advocate for others who either can’t speak up for themselves or feel like they don’t have a voice.
INTO THE UNKNOWN
My dad was visiting Washington, D.C., with his girlfriend when a domestic disturbance occurred. Police were called, and he was arrested. He was eventually allowed to go home to St. Louis but had to return to the nation’s capital to see his case through.
I believe my dad thought he would come home and avoid serving time behind bars, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, he was sentenced to serve 10 days at the D.C. Central Detention Facility.
Nearly two decades later, my family and I are left with unanswered questions about what exactly happened during those 10 days.
We know he died on the day he was set to be released. My grandmother, his mother, was notified because she was his emergency contact. My family received an autopsy, but other factors, including bruises on his body and missing teeth, went unexplained. My father also may have had a mental health crisis while behind bars.
His incarceration and death left me with feelings of shame and the all-too-familiar stigma that loved ones of incarcerated people experience. My dad also didn’t share what was going on in his life with many people.
With a shattered heart, I was left to pick up the pieces. However, my dad’s death paved the way for my advocacy journey. My family’s experience made me realize that I’m not only advocating for others, I’m speaking up on behalf of myself and my family.
What an empowering feeling!
TAKING ACTION
I now feel the responsibility to use my voice for those who have gone through similar situations.
Losing a loved one in the way I did can be a lonely experience, full of shame. But I refuse to give in to those feelings. I will not allow shame, stigma, and my father’s mistakes to silence my voice.
I am a Justice Ambassador for Prison Fellowship®, and I also do prison ministry with my husband in St. Louis.
Grounded in my faith in Jesus, I firmly believe everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. That is why I support the Family Notification of Death, Injury, or Illness in Custody Act. This measure will make a difference in the lives of family members who have loved ones in custody.
More than that, the bill sends a message that the lives of incarcerated people matter. They are behind bars to serve their time for the crime they’ve committed, but that doesn’t mean they lose their dignity or humanity. They must be treated with respect by those in positions of authority.
GREAT POWER, GREAT RESPONSIBILITY
I am thrilled this bill is bipartisan. It makes no difference which political party an incarcerated person belongs to, what race they are, where they grew up, or where they live. Incarceration cuts across all of those lines.
Families shouldn’t have to wait for an update on the status of a loved one if they are sick, injured, or die in custody. They should be given as much information as possible in a timely manner so they don’t experience what my family did.
Elected officials have an opportunity to advocate for those who feel like they don’t have a voice. They can speak up for family members who are stricken by stigma or shame. By supporting this bill, members of Congress can ensure the dignified treatment of those in custody.
While this bill specifically applies to the federal prison system that has 155,000 prisoners, it would serve as a model for states to implement their own policies. The vast majority of the incarcerated population in the U.S. is in the state prison systems, so it’s critical that states have a uniform set of rules and regulations on this matter.
I’m still dealing with the lingering effects of my dad’s death nearly two decades later. But my pain doesn’t stop me; rather, it propels me forward. I know I am here to help make a difference through advocating for legislation that would better people's lives. I thank God for this calling.
RAISE YOUR VOICE!
We encourage Christians who want to leverage their voice, stories, and experiences in the pursuit of biblical public policy to apply to the Justice Ambassador program. Justice Ambassadors’ voices can be an effective tool to spur legislative change and advance justice that restores.
Become a Justice Ambassador with Prison Fellowship today!
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