A couple of new, complex women were introduced on a deeper level this week.    The first to open up is Tiffany who was sentenced to 20 years for robbery and criminal confinement.  When you hear that it just sounds cold and hard, but her story helps me understand more clearly how she got to that point.  Her mother was a dancer and her father was a pimp.  Not exactly the parents or influences one would have hoped for.   Within that dangerous environment, Tiffany found herself at 17 years old the victim of rape…..by 14 men.    How does one even deal with being raped by 14 different men?  Somehow Tiffany survived, but I have to wonder if you don’t get help, where does that lead you?   

For Tiffany, it led her to prison.  She became a dancer and started doing drugs to escape the reality of it all.   Already feeling degraded, she found herself lashing out by robbing her clients.  When one particular customer pushed her too far, she and her boyfriend wanted to “make him pay”.  They beat him, robbed him and left him for dead.    A horrific crime that unfortunately makes sense.  Poor parenting, multiple rapes, dangerous living, doing drugs….any of those alone can break someone down.  The combination of them all was just too much.   Now, she is studying hard for her GED and doing well.  Apparently if prisoners get their GED while they are in prison, they receive a 6 month time cut to their sentence.   A win, win.  Education and knowledge lead to freedom…in more than one way.   However, she finds herself in trouble again.  A difference of opinions of what the guards say and what she claims happens.  What is on the line?  Time added to her release date.  She is hoping the videos can be reviewed and prove she wasn’t as disrespectful as the guard claimed.  

Then Amanda (a.k.a. Shardea) pops on scene.   At 21, she finds herself in jail for armed robbery.  She would claim it is far from the life she had envisioned, however I am not so sure.  She grew up wanting to be “the biggest drug dealer alive”.   Amanda admits she spent most of her life disrespecting everyone in her path,  but now is looking forward to a new start.   She is unhappy and focused on her mother, especially because in her eyes she is “not falling anymore” and is “doing something right”.   Apparently her mother isn’t writing her…I can’t judge because I have no idea what kind of relationship they have or how Amanda may have hurt her.   I do know that it is easier for people to say that they are “doing right” when they are in prison and can’t do anything else.   Then again, I imagine it is also a cathartic place where people make HUGE life decisions and could really use the advice and support of their loved ones.  Amanda is given an assignment…create a song with the help of another inmate, Annie.  The two women have different stories and Amanda’s case manager felt it would be great for them to work together.  A chance to grow.  Clearly uncomfortable, Amanda wasn’t really sure what she wanted to say in her song.  She abandons the idea after one session.  Off to do what she wants, how she wants to.   The case worker forces to head back and finish the assignment the correct way. 

This week the show picked right back up with Hannah, the 19 year old girl who broke down last week when talking to her parents.   I almost wanted to call this the “Joe” episode.   She is 19 and he is 32.   That isn’t the only concerning.  “He is perfect for me” she says….only to be followed by a list of physical features that make him right for her.  I didn’t hear anything about personal character traits.     She feels the relationship has gotten stronger since she went to prison.   How bad was the relationship if it actually got better when she went to prison?   Dr. Covington helps to direct Hannah into sharing her thoughts so she can let go of them.  Shame is still tearing her apart.  Hannah calls to speak to Joe and lets him know that she will be sharing more with her parents.  He has already admitted that he and Hannah would use up to 8 hours some days.  I am sure he is worried about how her parents will react.   

Now, my personal concerns with Joe.  He is a 32 year old addict.  Since Hannah was 14, he has been standing in line at the Methadone clinic where Hannah’s mom works.  Yes, Hannah’s mother knew him long before Hannah ever did.  He claims “everything I do is focused around her”.  That is concerning and appears to be a bit obsessive.  It also appears Hannah is concerned about being open with her parents for fear of outting Joe and his role in her addiction.  I think deep down she knows it isn’t a healthy relationship.  On top of that…he drives her car, depends on her family to supply him with stamps to write Hannah, has no goals and even calls her parents his best and only friends. This is SOOOO concerning.   Her parent’s walk a  delicate line knowing this is an important crossroad for their daughter.  Trying to keep them apart will divide them all and having him in their daughter’s life is not good either, especially when he admits she wasn’t really heavy into drugs before him.    It must be so hard for them.  If only Joe would just go away, it would be so much better for Hannah.  Unfortunately, Hannah and her family is all Joe has.  Not a good situation.   Hopefully through therapy, Hannah can break the shame and realize Joe is not good for her or her sobriety.

I can’t help but wonder how many of these changes will stick for these women once they are released and on their OWN.  Hopefully by the end of this series, these women will have made life-altering changes and find that life can be so much better!