Empowering and uplifting justice-

involved women to take control

LINN COUNTY EMPOWERMENT

INITIATIVE

of their future!

We Want YOU to Help Us Make the Difference!

Who will we serve?

We will be serving two distinct populations in Linn County.

Women on community-supervision (probation) through the Department

of Corrections in need of advocacy, support, resources

Women returning to Linn County from a period of incarceration (county

jail, state or federal prison) who need reentry assistance in the form of
guidance, case-coordination and support

How will we serve our clients and community?

Short Term:

Offering Linn County the only

gender-responsive approach
that is trauma-informed to
provide safe and stable
housing as a foundation for
women who are justice
involved.

Coordinated efforts with 6th Judicial Department of Corrections

Peer-to-Peer Mentoring with a state-certified Peer Recovery Support

Specialist

Coordination and Facilitation of Gender-Responsive Programs

Advocacy and Support with reintegration planning

Long Term:

Supportive Housing for Clients

Sales, Marketing and Business skills through employment in the LCEI
sponsored coffee shop

LCEI ~ Creating Foundations of Hope

Community Impact
The Women of LCEI will make a huge difference for
Linn County
In addition to the empowering life and success skills our residents will receive, the tools of self-sufficiency that will be applied by our residents will in
turn reduce the negative economic impact of the community by providing:

Less taxpayer dollars spent on incarceration due to repetitive cycling

through the correctional system
As familial units are restored healthily the likelihood of generational justice involvement will lessen
The LCEI sponsored coffee shop will provide job-skills and training to
residents while simultaneously increasing local economic growth
An awareness of the unique challenges and barriers that women face
will lessen the stigma of being justice involved

Contact Us to Make
Your Difference!

Why a Gender-Response?
Statistically women become involved through life experiences involving significant trauma, violence and abuse; frequently having
co-occurring struggles with mental health, substance abuse and
relational challenges.

Sue Engle
sengle@lceicr.org
Larissa Ruffin

The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that while the US prison

population nationally decreased by 1% in 2014, the state of Iowa
saw a 5.3% increase of women under prison jurisdiction. Many of
these women are serving sentences for non-violent crimes and will
be released to the community within a relatively short time from
sentencing.

lruffin@lceicr.org
Jennifer Tibbetts
jtibbetts@lceicr.org

Call or email to find out how

you can be part of needed
change in Linn County.

Despite these staggering statistics there has been a limited response that provides tools and support for these women as they
work to reenter the community, or remain in their community.
LCEI will provide Linn County with more options and supports than
it has seen before.

Our Mission
Building a foundation of hope by providing gender-responsive and traumainformed housing and supports for women involved in the justice system.