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She spent 18 years in central Virginia prisons — and wants the world to know that incarcerated mothers matter

Woman in glasses and t-shirt standing in front of brick building and flowers smiles for camera. Her shirt has a colorful graphic that says "Free the legendary 3."
Telling women in prison that they matter can help break the cycle of incarceration, writes Candace Williams. In a deeply personal First Person Charlottesville story, Williams tells her story of motherhood and coming back from the inside.

By: Candace Williams

Before I was inmate number 1414048, I was Candace Williams.

And long before the system knew my name, I was a little girl whose mother was in and out of prison. I was raised by my grandparents. I told myself over and over again, “I’m not going to end up like my mom.” But cycles don’t just break because we want them to.

Read more at Charlottesville Tomorrow.