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“Belly of the Beast” NAWJ Screening & Panel

WJP was honored to participate in a May 20, 2021 virtual panel discussion following a private screening of “Belly of the Beast,” a documentary film produced and directed by Erika Cohn that exposes the pattern of non-consensual illegal sterilizations in women’s prisons.

This event was hosted by the National Association of Women Judges – New York Chapter in partnership with Queens County Women’s Bar Association, Latino Judges Association, Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, Judicial Friends Association, and the Gender Fairness Committee for Supreme Court, Criminal Court and Civil Court for Queens County.

The panel was moderated by the Honorable Sally E. Unger. Panelists included:

Miyhosi Benton, WJP Associate Director of Advocacy & Strategy
Sharon White-Harrigan, WJP Strategic Consultant and Executive Director of Women’s Community Justice Association
Dr. Carolyn Sufrin, Director of Advocacy & Research on Reproductive Wellness of Incarcerated People at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

It IS possible to give consent to medical procedures in a carceral environment, but in order to do so, there must be access to accurate, unbiased information about the procedure - the reasons for it and the risks associated with it – as well as the ability to refuse the procedure without retaliation. Unfortunately, as we saw in the film, and from what we know from the lived experiences of many women and men in prison, this context is usually not provided when trying to obtain informed consent from incarcerated people.

– Miyhosi Benton

WJP Associate Director of Advocacy & Strategy

Learn more about “Belly of the Beast”: www.bellyofthebeastfilm.com

Check out WJP’s infographic on Pregnancy, Childbirth & Shackling

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Jess jackson

Executive Director

Jess Jackson is a dynamic and creative professional with expertise in operations, program planning, organizing, and arts-based advocacy, committed to driving meaningful social change by cultivating highly functional organizations and innovative programming. To all aspects of her career, Jess brings a lifelong passion for the arts and a deep commitment to social justice. In summer 2026, Jess became Executive Director of WJP, leading the organization’s strategy, development, programs and partnerships. For 7 years prior, Jess served as WJP Director of Operations & Arts Advocacy, spearheading operations efforts and leading arts-based and culture change initiatives including creative arts programming at two New York women’s prisons. Prior to joining WJP, Jess worked in sales, business management, and arts administration with organizations including Marriott, Google, and the School of Visual Arts. She is known for developing highly impactful initiatives and programs for organizations looking to carry out their work in ways that are more effective, capacious, and values aligned. With a versatile skillset spanning operations, strategy, program planning, organizing, creative project management, and events, Jess brings an interdisciplinary flair to her work, and a dedication to advancing the brilliant work and vision of WJP’s staff and partners. Jess holds a BA from the University of Michigan, lives in Brooklyn with her family, and in her spare time enjoys volunteering with Narrows Botanical Gardens, traveling, reading, writing, and leaning into her creative pursuits.