Our Origin Story
I’m so excited to announce the official launch of our 501(c)3 nonprofit, Drop LWOP New England. I’d like to share with you our origin story and how we were founded.
When I was in my early 20’s, I survived a brutal attempt on my life at the hands of a romantic partner. It’s the kind of story that can be very upsetting. I was hit, dragged by my hair, held at gunpoint, and even pistol whipped. At one point, he had me in choke hold and as I was losing consciousness, I had a vision of my own body in the Charles River. I only survived because he miraculously let me go. But I wasn’t allowed to leave for two days because he was afraid I would report him to the authorities.
And report him I did.
This began my long journey of learning about the criminal justice system, first-hand, as a survivor of attempted murder.
From the beginning, I knew something with the system wasn’t working for me. I asked for an alternative to a trial proceeding but was informed that no such alternative existed.
I was laughed at when I asked if we could sit down and have a mediated conversation. I wanted to talk to him, I wanted to know - was he remorseful for what had happened?
Not only was I informed that this wasn’t an option, I was assured that I would feel so much better once the “monster” was locked away for “as long as possible.”
Putting him in a cage did not bring me healing.
A few years after the attack, my trauma still alive and well in my subconscious, I went back to school with the specific goal of becoming a forensic psychologist. I wanted to work with people in prison.
While in my graduate program, I discovered restorative justice (RJ) and it struck me like lightning. Instead of seeing crime as a narrowly conceived legal violation, restorative justice sees crime as a violation of people and communities which create needs in those communities. Ensuring those needs are met, especially the need for rehabilitation and restitution, is the core concern of Restorative Justice.
In San Quentin prison, training in RJ, I began my healing journey through deep conversation with people who had committed violence - and were remorseful and accountable for their actions.
Many of these people were never coming home. They were serving life without the possibility of parole, also known as LWOP, aka the “other death penalty,” or “death by incarceration” (DBI).
I began volunteering my time to facilitate RJ, and worked closely with a group of six “inside” facilitators (incarcerated people who had been trained in RJ facilitation.) I got to know them and their stories through our work together.
There was one man in particular that I grew close with named Steven “Farooq” Quinlan. I know it sounds cliché but getting to know him was the most organic experience of falling in love that I ever had. Farooq is serving a double LWOP sentence for homicide.
Once I became involved with my now husband, I was ethically conflicted from facilitating the RJ program, so Farooq and I turned our attention to the issue of never-ending incarceration.
Thus, we founded Drop LWOP New England, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to ending extreme prison sentences in the six New England states.
I hope you’ll join us in our mission to end LWOP and all forms of death by incarceration! Subscribe to our mailing list to stay updated and get involved in our efforts!
Until then, may light find you, even in the darkest of spaces.
With Gratitude & In Solidarity,
Dr. Brashani Reece, Co-Founder & Executive Director
About Us
Dr. Brashani Reece
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Drop LWOP New England was co-founded by Brashani Reece, a survivor of violence and Steven Quinlan (known as “Farooq”), currently serving two consecutive life without parole sentences out of the state of Rhode Island.
Both are trained restorative justice practitioners and advocates for ending ALL life sentencing.
Steven “Farooq” Quinlan
Co-Founder & Program Director
Dr. Brashani Reece holds a doctorate in clinical psychology with concentrations in forensics and children & families. Farooq holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Boston University. They were trained in restorative justice practices through the Victim Offender Education Group (VOEG) curriculum offered by Insight Prison Project in California.
The Drop LWOP Project was inspired by the Drop LWOP Coalition in California. Thank you for leading the way!