I was overwhlemed, it was a miracle': the jailed mothers getting a second chance in Colombia

"Jennifer Chaparro Pernet cannot remember the exact moment she became aware of a commotion outside the prison. But she recalls feeling a ripple of excitement when she heard people shouting, and then a guard calling her name. By 6pm she was walking out of El Buen Pastor women's prison in Bogota, a small bag of clothes in her hand, to a cacophony of banging, cheering and stomping as her fellow prisoners celebrated her release."

"It was 4 May 2024, and Chaparro Pernet, 36, was the first woman to be released under Colombia's 2023 Public Utility law, which allows first-time female offenders who are heads of households with caring responsibilities to apply to serve their remaining sentence in the community. She was stunned by the turn of events. After passing through the prison gates she fell to her knees before tearfully answering questions from the TV reporters who had gathered to record the moment."

"Although she applied to the scheme as soon as it became law, her application was rejected three times, and while she never gave up hope, she was wary of being too optimistic. Instead, she focused on maintaining a good record. Her release was greeted with joy and incredulity by her cellmates. Whenever someone left jail it was always a feeling of happiness."

Jennifer Chaparro Pernet, 36, was released from El Buen Pastor women's prison on 4 May 2024 after four years of a 12-year sentence as the first woman freed under Colombia's 2023 Public Utility law. The law allows first-time female offenders who are heads of households with caring responsibilities to apply to serve remaining sentences in the community. Her application was rejected three times before approval, and she maintained a good record while incarcerated. Her release prompted emotional celebration among inmates and media attention. Fellow prisoner Sandra Julieth Cantor was released under the same law on 8 March 2025.

Read at www.theguardian.com