Heather Jarvis

Heather C. Jarvis is a beacon of resilience and empowerment, advocating for women facing gender-specific challenges in the criminal legal system. A survivor of addiction and incarceration, Heather transforms her experiences into powerful narratives, inspiring others to pursue courageous self-change through her writing, speaking, social work, and storytelling. She believes that if the truth causes harm to oneself, others, or the world, it must be changed.

In 2019, Heather won the Fielding A. Dawson Prize in nonfiction in PEN America’s Prison Writing Contest. Her work has been featured in The Crime Report, The Iowa Review Prison Writing Project, The Journal of Women and Criminal Justice, Scalawag Magazine, Spectre, Prism, and Slate. She is also a regular contributor to the Prison Journalism Project and was a Semifinalist in TulipTree Publishing’s Stories That Need To Be Told Contest.

Heather holds an A.A.S. in Correctional Rehabilitation from Sinclair College and is currently a student at The Ohio State University. Her firsthand experiences with the cycle of incarceration and generational crime, both as a child and as a parent, fuel her advocacy and storytelling.

Heather’s journey through unimaginable challenges has shaped her into a powerful advocate and storyteller. Her story is one of transformation, courage, and relentless hope, inspiring others to find their strength and change their narratives.