Stacey Dyer

Stacey Dyer is an incarcerated survivor of child sexual abuse, rape, and domestic violence who has been in prison for 16 years. By the time she was convicted and sentenced to Life Without Parole when she was 22 years old, Stacey had suffered from the devastating long-term effects of profound sexual, physical, and psychological abuse.

Because Stacey had experienced compounded trauma, her sense of safety was shattered. When she was 20 years old, Stacey was attacked by a group of men and raped. A year later, she thought she had finally found safety in a relationship with a person who was the lead member of a gang and who promised to protect her. However, this context of compromised safety ultimately led to her crime. Stacey continues to experience profound remorse and grief as a result, in addition to contending with her own experiences of violence.

In prison, Stacey has taken initiative to create positive change in her community and, as a result, she was elected into multiple leadership positions by her peers. Stacey serves as a certified peer mentor and a trained facilitator for many support groups such as grief counseling and suicide prevention. Stacey is also deeply involved in her own healing and transformation, participating in dozens of programs on topics such as insight, restorative justice, conflict resolution, and domestic violence.