The If Project

The United States has the largest prison population of any country in the world.
There are over 7.3 million people in prison, jail, on probation or parole. That is 1 in every 31 adults. Of these adults, the majority have children of their own. For these children, the chance that they will end up in prison like their parents is 70%.

Though these numbers are staggering, we believe there is hope. There is hope in listening to the stories of these marginalized individuals. Just the simple knowledge that their voices actually matter has already had a profound effect on the women participating in The If Project.

By listening to the experiences of the inmates themselves, we hope to glean some information that can be used to break the cycle—to get to a child in need before they head down the path to prison and empower already incarcerated women with esteem so after they’re released, they don’t return.

The If Project and the women participating do not intend to excuse or dismiss responsibility for any of the crimes committed. Rather, they intend to take full responsibility and choose to look deeply into their past to learn what led them to this place.