The Need for Criminal Justice Reform in Iowa
The 2025 legislative session started last week. We are working to see legislation passed that will address specific concerns related to Criminal Justice Reform Ruth Harbor moms face in everyday life. These include:
Driver’s License Reform. From day one having an invalid driver’s license places our moms in the position of not driving to work, accessing childcare, doctor’s appointments, etc., If they drive to get to these obligations, they are breaking the law and risk arrest and returning to jail. Here is a common situation we see with the women we serve. She has a car, but she does not have a valid driver’s license, and her car is not registered. She cannot get insurance for her car because she doesn’t have a driver’s license. She can’t get a driver’s license because she has almost $1,000 in fines she cannot afford to pay. So, in order to survive, she has to drive, but IF she gets pulled over for a minor traffic violation, she will get charged with driving without a license, driving an unregistered vehicle, no insurance, and unpaid fines. She could get arrested and put in jail and her child could be put into foster care. This all stems from not having a driver’s license, and she can’t get a driver’s license because she can’t pay the $1,000 in fines. Understand the cyclical nature of this one issue and how this keeps a woman in poverty.
Funding for Drug Courts. Drug Courts operate outside of the regular criminal justice system and give judges (who volunteer to serve on a Drug Court) greater flexibility to address individual problems related to drug use rather than the black and white statues of the law. Drug Courts have proven to be an effective instrument in helping non-violent offenders who are working to address their addiction but still struggling with substance abuse. This gives offenders the opportunity to continue working on their addiction without having to return to jail or prison.
Forgiveness for Non-violent Felons. Many Ruth Harbor moms have been convicted of non-violent (many times drug related) Class D Felonies. Currently, a felony conviction haunts an individual for life. Every application for employment or for housing includes a checkbox asking if the individual has been convicted of a felony. If she checks the box, that is often the end of the application process. It doesn’t matter what led to the conviction, how long ago it was, or how much progress a woman has made since her conviction, she will check that box for the rest of her life. We could share the stories of several Ruth Harbor women who have this barrier, The best scenario would be a pathway for felons to have their non-violent, Class D Felony expunged after a set number of years if there are no more offences. A second option would be to consider a “Ban the Box” law that would prevent employers and landlords from asking about a person’s criminal background. This would give men and women in recovery a fair chance at employment and housing. Currently, the City of Des Moines has a “Ban the Box” ordinance for employment applications, but the ordinance has been challenged by the State of Iowa. (The City of Des Moines ordinance does give employers the opportunity to run a criminal background check after a conditional offer of employment. It also exempts employers like schools, hospitals, etc., where state law prohibits felons from working.) There is no “Ban the Box” protection for rental applications.
Criminal Justice Reform begins with four words: Dignity. Respect. Community. Safety.
Key Obstacles for Ruth Harbor Moms
Based on our experience at Ruth Harbor, here are the key obstacles our moms and their children face:
Obtaining a driver's license
Affordable Housing (often compounded by predatory landlords)
Employment that provides a livable income with work hours when childcare is available.
Availability of Childcare
Availability of Mental Health Services
Reliable Transportation
Acquiring Basic Parenting Skills
Fitness & Nutrition
Personal Financial Management
Lack of healthy community
At Ruth Harbor we work with women to address each of these areas of need. Thanks to your faithful giving and ongoing prayer support, we are continually developing our program and building our partner network to help women succeed, but it is not an easy journey. Continue to pray for the women of Ruth Harbor and for their children. If you are not part of our Prayer Team, consider joining today.
Introducing New Board Member Leah Davenport
We are excited and honored to welcome Leah Davenport to the Ruth Harbor Board! Leah brings a wealth of leadership experience, having served on the Board of Directors at Ankeny Christian Academy for nearly a decade, including three years as Chair. She is actively and passionately involved at her local church where she has led mission' teams for 15 years as well as led small groups and served in the nursery for over 17 years. Ruth Harbor will benefit greatly from her heart for service that has also extended to contributions made at other pro-life, faith-based organizations such as AGAPE.
We look forward to the impact Leah will make in advancing both the mission of Ruth Harbor and in sharing the gospel through its ministries. A dedicated mother, wife, and prayer warrior, Leah’s commitment to faith and family will make her a great addition to our board. Leah and her husband, David, have 5 children and are members of First Family Church in Ankeny.
Year-end Fundraising Goal Met
Thanks to the generosity of Ruth Harbor’s donor family, we reached our year-end fundraising goal of $400,000. As of January 15, $411,000 have been given during the months of November and December.
Ruth Harbor’s 2025 Budget
Based on the giving in 2024, the Ruth Harbor Board of Directors approved an annual budget of $890,000 for 2025. This allows us to fully staff both homes, continue to develop our programming to address the needs of women coming out of generational poverty, provide counseling and access to mental health services, and have the staff to deepen our relationships with women and their children as the move through our program and after graduating.