Empowering Survivor-Advocates
Free Battered Texas Women (FBTW) is a survivor- and women-led education and advocacy group whose mission is to stop arrests of female abuse survivors; to promote clemency; and to support incarcerated/formerly incarcerated survivors, ensuring they live whole, productive lives.
Our ED Dr. Cathy Marston birthed FBTW from inside the Texas prisons, where she served 9 years in TDCJ for acting under duress from abuse. She has published on criminalized abuse survivors since 2010 & presented on the history of clemency efforts for Texas survivors in 2019 for the National State Clemency Awareness convening of the National Council for Incarcerated & Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. Read More…
“My abusive husband does not have a hold over me anymore. The fact that you never forgot about me assured me that there are people out there that do care about our fate. And know that you guys are making a difference. I’m so proud to know that your organization is growing, changing women’s lives, and giving us hope.”
Martha Hernandez
Getting mail from FBTW made me feel happy. It made me feel good. I had hope.
I told my friends, “When I get home, I'm going to call Cathy and tell her my story and hope that it helps some of y'all women that's in prison to get out.”
Margaret Crayton
Free Battered Texas Women is part of my self-care through advocacy. These women are a part of my story and healing.
Dr Cathy Marston
Free Battered Texas Women was always there for me, especially writing parole letters and supporting my family when they didn’t know what to do when I was on the inside. FBTW was instrumental in me making parole!
Geraldine Swaim
Free Battered Texas Women is my way of helping other women that might have experienced the wrongdoing that I, as well others, felt and experienced while defending ourselves. It is part of my self healing.
Cheryl Craig
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