Latoya Dickens, an African American mother who endured 25 years in prison for killing her abusive husband, is transforming her life into a beacon of hope for domestic violence survivors.
Granted parole in Sept. 2024, Dickens is now a vocal advocate, sharing her story to highlight the systemic inequities survivors face in the judicial system.
In 1998, Dickens was sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing her husband during a violent altercation. For 14 years, she had suffered unrelenting abuse, including being thrown off a porch while eight months pregnant.
On the day of the incident, her husband disabled her car as she attempted to leave.
“He shoved me to the sofa, and everything happened so fast,” Dickens recalled. “I remember calling 911.”
A Legal System That Overlooks Abuse
Dickens’ trial largely ignored her history of domestic abuse, focusing solely on the moments surrounding the stabbing.
Her attorney, Janis Mann, later collaborated with the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence to present evidence of the years of abuse Dickens endured. This evidence proved pivotal in securing her parole.
Ellie Williams of the coalition pointed out the legal system’s failure to consider the broader context of abuse in such cases.
“Courts are really looking at one specific moment in time, and the law isn’t written in a way that we can consider context, circumstance, history,” Williams explained.
The Harsh Realities of Domestic Violence
Statistics reveal the grim truth: 77% of domestic violence homicides occur when victims try to leave their abusers. In Georgia, nearly half of domestic violence fatalities involve relationships that began in adolescence. Dickens, who met her husband when she was just 13, underscores this heartbreaking reality.
“I don’t feel like I’ve ever been free,” Dickens admitted, reflecting on her journey from victim to survivor.
A Mission of Advocacy and Second Chances
Today, Dickens is channeling her pain into purpose. She is committed to supporting survivors and advocating for systemic change.
“The rest of my life is going to be about helping people get to where I am today, and that’s on the other side,” she told 11Alive. “I want to make sure that I can remain a face for domestic violence and that I can help support the women that are still on the inside because I feel like they all deserve a second chance, just like I’ve been given.”
Her advocacy highlights the need for greater understanding and systemic reform for survivors of domestic violence.
