Ellen Barry
(1954-)

American Prison Rights Lawyer & Activist
1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005

birthdate: ?
birthplace: Somerville, Massachusetts

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Ellen Barry is a prison rights lawyer and activist who advocates for women in US jails and prisons. She has dedicated her life to challenging the growing American prison system. 2 million Americans are imprisoned -- more than in any other nation. Ellen Barry believes that if more money were spent on health and education we would have to spend far less on incarceration, but prisons have become big business in America so it is difficult to change the current growing trend. She has helped to expose prison abuses and injustices and has helped to bring about many improvements in the prison system. Ellen Barry is the founding director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children that has advocated for incarcerated women and their families for 3 decades. She is also co-chair of the National Network for Women in Prison. Ellen Barry was nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize as part of the 1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize project.