When a married man goes to prison, his wife and family are also affected by the sentence — albeit in very different ways. This October, Lifetime’s Prison Wives Club will explore how the women cope with life when their convicted spouses are in prison.
From the network:
The new Lifetime docuseries “Prison Wives Club” follows four women living with their decisions to fall in love with and remain married to convicted felons. While facing judgment from their friends and families, each episode explores how these women struggle to find normalcy despite their unconventional choices when it comes to the men in their lives.
The eight-episode first season will follow Kate, Jhemini, Ana and LaQuisha, whose spouses are serving sentences that range from 10 years to life. Although the women often rely on each other for support, they also occasionally clash over how to behave “as a wife on the ‘outside.'”
Unlike many casts that are cobbled together by TV producers, it seems the ladies actually have preexisting relationships thanks to the actual Prison Wives Club.
According to their website, the Washington-based group meets “to celebrate each other and let our hair down.” Founder LaQuisha added her goal is “to connect women that have experienced, or are currently experiencing the ins and outs of supporting a loved one in the prison system.”
LaQuisha is the founder of the Prison Wives Club. She married Phillip in March 2013. He is currently serving a 60-year sentence for felony murder and attempted murder. He has been incarcerated since 2001 and is currently scheduled for release in 2060.
LaQuisha has two children, but it’s unclear if they are with Phillip. She said the experience of being married to an incarcerated person is “challenging yet rewarding.”
“I’ve learned a lot about myself, family and friends and I feel the need to share my insight with anyone about to embark on this crazy journey,” she said on the group’s website. “I understand the isolation, rejection, and everything that comes with making the decision to support a loved one incarcerated. I’ve been through the ups and downs and want all of you to know that if we celebrate each others strengths we will become the most valuable asset to our loved ones.”
Ana met now-husband Michael through WriteAPrisoner.com and they’ve been married for “a little over a year.” He is serving a life sentence and has already been in prison for 27 years. Obviously knowing what she was getting into when she reached out to Michael, Ana said she just wanted friendship.
“In doing so I met my soul mate,” she explained. “This journey has been lonely and hard at times, but thankfully I’ve met some amazing people down the road to help get me through all of this.”
Kate and Carlo were together for five years before his 10-year sentence began. If he continues to demonstrate good behavior, she said they will likely be reunited in early 2020.
“We’ve had our shares of doubts, anger, hurt, and resentment. But, the trials and tribulations we’ve been through have molded us both into stronger people, and in turn stronger for each other,” she said. “We are growing and developing ourselves separately AND individually to be better people… Some people will never have to look at things the way we’ve had to, but I am thankful for the lessons I’ve taken from this experience.”
Jhemini
Jhemini doesn’t have a bio on the Prison Wives Club page, so I don’t know who her husband is… Based on her social media accounts, though, she is a former pageant queen and currently works as a model.
She confirmed her participation in Lifetime’s Prison Wives Club yesterday, saying, “Thank you those of you who have known EVERYTHING about my life and still stuck by my side over these last 5 years! I love each and every one of you and now I’m excited to share my life with the rest of the world.”
Prison Wives Club premieres on Lifetime on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 10/9c.
