NUECES COUNTY, Texas — The Purple Door and Nueces County Sheriff's Office are teaming up on a new initiative, set to begin in early September, that will involve bringing support groups to female jail inmates.
Sheriff J.C. Hooper said it was about a month ago when the organization reached out to him to pitch the collaborative effort.
"I was really shocked that we haven't done this before," Hooper said. "It's something that should have been done years ago, especially for the vulnerable population of the female inmates in our jail."
Katlyn Campsmith, Sexual Assault Services Coordinator for The Purple Door, explained how the ultimate goal is to introduce women inmates to the resources that are available to them once they get out of jail, but they will also be available to help with intake processing.
"The fact that we’ll be able to go in and make the connection while they’re there, I think it makes a little less scary to approach our services once they get out of jail," Campsmith said. "To make it more accessible, make the connection prior to getting out and having all this stuff put in front of you."
She said her team recognizes that many women once inside the jail, can feel hopeless if they do not know where to turn to next.
"The goal and the hope is to get this started for them while they’re in a place of -- where there’s not a whole lot of hope there -- so being able to provide any of that is such an honor, a privilege," Campsmith said.
According to Hooper, while the jail does offer other programs that include clergy and a literacy group that comes into visit, The Purple Door partnership will be one of the "first female-specific" programs that is brought into the jail.
"By connecting to them in this environment, whether it’s in group exercises or one-on-one with the tablets, they're making that relationship, so when these women get out of here they'll know there’s a place to go," he said. "We’re just beginning with The Purple Door, I think there’s a lot more to be done."
3NEWS Anchor Leslie Adami and Chief Photojournalist Preston West joined Captain Belinda Bustamante and Lieutenant Olivia Gutierrez on a tour of the Nueces County Jail to see the exact hallways, rooms and meeting areas where The Purple Door will be bringing their support groups to. According to Bustamante, the new collaboration is already being met with excitement.
"They [The Purple Door] will not only be educating them on the services and programs they offer, but they will establish a relationship that they will take with them when they leave here," Bustamante said. "The Purple Door will advocate for them and when possible, they will be there for them when they go to court to offer support. A lot of people here do not have a support system, knowing someone is advocating for them maybe what helps them turn things around."
On this tour, 3NEWS met inmates Melinda Adame, Shannon Nuñez and Sarah Pinkston. All serving time at the Nueces County Jail for different reasons, but share a common goal: to lean into one another, their faith and utilize the programs offered while in jail to be their best selves once they get out.
"She wants to go a program that's gonna help her afterwards, she wants to do something more for her family, more for herself. Amen," Pinkston said, referencing the two women beside her.
"I'm 40 years old, I'm ready to end my life already with this situation I'm ready to move on because I know God has got something planned for me out there," Nuñez said.
"A lot of women find the family that they don't have, in here," Adame said. "A lot of people out in the world don't understand there's a community in here when you get locked up, we gotta take care of each other."
News of the collaboration was well-received by Adame, Nuñez and Pinkston, though their hope is that they're out by the time it's implemented.
"All I've heard is good things about The Purple Door, and if they’re willing to come in and help women, I’ll back them up," Adame said.
According to Hooper, at this time the collaboration with The Purple Door will only be for the women population at the jail, but recognizes that the organization does also serve men. The sheriff says that bringing representatives from The Purple Door to male inmates is an option they would be willing to explore in the future.
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