Prison Chief Talks About His Father’s Domestic Abuse
On November 10, Commissioner Randall Liberty is sharing his story of growing up with a violent father, on a Maine radio show hosted by the Founder and CEO of Finding Our Voices, Patrisha McLean
Commissioner Randall Liberty of the Maine Department of Corrections is publicly breaking his silence about his father’s violence to his mother on a radio show hosted by the Founder and CEO of Finding Our Voices.
The radio episode with Patrisha Mclean airs November 10 at 4 p.m. on WERU-FM out of Orland, 89.9 on the dial and live-streaming around the world. It will also be available for listening on the Finding Our Voices website.
Liberty, who runs Maine’s jails and prisons and oversees all probationers, said he has talked “only in passing” about abuse by his father that includes an arrest for domestic violence. He said he is publicly sharing details with Patrisha McLean “because it’s important that everyone understand domestic abuse is far reaching. The, perception that people of influence are above it? Not true.”
The conversation with Liberty is the 30th episode of McLean’s monthly “Let’s Talk About It” radio program that she says is “one more way” the grassroots nonprofit Finding Our Voices is breaking the silence, stigma, and cycle of domestic abuse across Maine.
Commissioner Randall Liberty as a boy, visiting his father in prison on Christmas Day. In the photo Liberty is the boy on Santa’s lap facing the camera, with his brother sitting next to him.
The group is currently bringing a panel of survivors to libraries across the state, who are sharing their stories and then leading a community conversation on domestic abuse. Their most visible awareness-outreach is posters papering downtown business windows and bathrooms featuring the photo portraits of 45 survivors, including two formerly incarcerated woman and Governor Janet T. Mills.
Liberty and the Finding Our Voices Founder and CEO originally connected through the nonprofit’s programs with incarcerated women at the Windham Correctional Center. These include a “Love/not Love” art project and book discussion group. McLean said that most of the women she has talked with at the medium-security prison have been through horrific abuse by an intimate partner, and also grew up in homes with domestic abuse. Jennifer Jaroszuk who does intake at the women’s unit estimates “at least 80 percent” of the residents are victims of domestic violence by a partner.
Commissioner Liberty’s November 10 radio show previews a “MEN TALKING” event at the Camden Public Library on November 28 that is the final stop in a two-month tour of libraries that features survivors leading a community conversation about domestic abuse. The November 28 event features a panel of men talking about growing up with violent fathers as well as breaking the cycle. The group will be at Skidompha Library in Damariscotta on the morning of Tuesday November 7.
Republished by:
Bangor Daily News
Head of Maine’s Department of Corrections talks about his father’s domestic violence on Finding Our Voices radio show
November 6, 2023
