Sharmaine Smith interview, 2023-07-21

This is an oral history interview with Sharmaine Smith, a long-time Coalition for Women Prisoners member and a lead voice on the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) discretion campaign. It was conducted on July 21st, 2023 by Ava Sullivan-Thomas and Ana Sofia Harrison. Firstly, Sharmaine tells about her experiences and family life growing up in Harlem in the 1960s and 1970s. The second part of the interview focuses on her first drug-related incarceration and the events that preceded it. Sharmaine then speaks about having her child taken from her and her struggle with the child welfare system. She then talks through her experience going through treatment and writing a letter herself to a judge asking for ATI (alternative to incarceration). She explains how she cultivated advocacy skills and relationships through her involvement with ReConnect and the CWP; particularly on the ASFA campaign. The third part of the interview focuses on Sharmaine pursuing her education at John Jay College and her goals for a future community built to support formerly incarcerated people.