Simpsonian

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Lifestyles

Senior Danny Heggen spent two terms in Australia, during which he wrote a book chronicling the lives of female prisoners. Jen Cornwell/Staff Photographer

Many students study abroad and find themselves doing things that will change their lives forever. For senior Danny Heggen, this was definitely the case. While studying two terms at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, Heggen wrote and published a book.

This book, "Voices on the Inside: The Women of Boronia," deals with the lives and experiences of the inmates at the Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women. The Centre is a select facility for women who have recently been released from a maximum security term and need to slowly ease back into society.

Heggen's book is directed at both the prison system and at women entering the Centre, letting them know that they are not the only ones in their positions.

Heggen's book begins with a history of the Boronia Pre-release Centre, a foreword by Minister of Justice in Western Australia and Heggen's personal reflection. The highlights, however, are the women's stories.

Heggen's book chronicles each woman's life before prison and how each person got into their situation.

"You often just see their crime, not the whole situation," Heggen said. "I wanted to give depth to these women."

The book goes on to tell about each woman's experiences with the Centre, and Heggen was actually able to speak with two women who had been released and one who was recommitted. In the end, Heggen's book chronicled the lives of 12 women and included 10 stories, although one was cut by the administration.

Dr. Lora Friedrich, chair of the Department of Social Science, has read excerpts from Heggen's book and feels that the stories are pertinent to women all over.

"In the stories that I read, women were impacted by drug abuse and sexual violence," Friedrich said. "These are universal themes, particularly for women who are incarcerated."

Heggen conducted his first interview in February 2007. Not much later, he held an open event to explain the purpose of his book and to invite interested women to be interviewed. This event was unexpectedly successful. Heggen expected three or four volunteers. Instead, 13 came. Heggen then spent the next several months conducting individual interviews with each woman.

Continued...

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