May Lynn Simmons

When I arrived at Montana Women’s Prison, I initially grappled with uncertainty about the environment—was it merely a prison, or something more? My shock intensified as I witnessed the open sexuality exhibited by the staff toward the offenders. These women, already incarcerated, were further reduced to nothing more than sexual playthings in the eyes of those who should have been their caretakers. Determined to alter this toxic culture, I vowed to become an agent of change. Little did I realize that my commitment would lead to the exposure of a 25-year cover-up involving sexual exploitation and rape within the facility. The truth emerged, revealing a dark history implicating over 100 staff members and countless victims. In my darkest moments, after 14 grueling battling the State Corrections system, I discovered P2P. This organization became my lifeline, lifting me from emotional and physical exhaustion. Meeting powerful role models within P2P renewed my strength and ignited a fire within my soul—a relentless determination to continue my journey and bring much-needed reforms to Montana Prisons.