COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Mothers and grandmothers at the Camille Graham and Goodman Correctional Institutions celebrated the holiday season with their children and families through a program designed to bridge the gap created by incarceration.
As part of the institution's Riley's Readers program, inmates recorded storybooks to gift their children for Christmas. The initiative allows children to hear their parent's voice reading to them, offering a sense of connection despite the distance.
Crystal, a mother of two 3-year-olds serving time at the Camille Graham Correctional Institution, shared the emotional toll of being away from her children.
"It's very scary. My biggest fear is, are they gonna forgive me?" she said.
Having missed many of her children's milestones during her two years of incarceration, Crystal spoke about the regrets that come with her situation.
"You take a lot of stuff for granted, like just the littlest things - changing their diapers, their first birthdays, or when they get sick. All that gets taken away," she said. "You just want them to grow up and know that it wasn't intentional."
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In 2016, South Carolina Corrections Director Bryan Stirling created Riley's Readers to help incarcerated parents maintain bonds with their children. Stirling, dressed in a festive holiday outfit, attended the event alongside Miss South Carolina Davis Wash. Wash, who has personal experience with parental incarceration, shared her story with the families.
"My dad was incarcerated. He was in prison for six months," Wash said while sitting with Crystal and her children. "I love these kinds of events because they give kids a chance to feel a little bit of a normal holiday season. It's about love and connection."
Wash's relationship with her father has since blossomed, offering hope to families like Crystal's.
Since the program's inception, Riley's Readers has expanded to all 21 state prisons in South Carolina, distributing 661 books to children.
For Crystal, the program represents a step toward strengthening her relationship with her children despite their distance.
"I know it's hard to do it by yourself," she said. "I wish everybody could have a support system because even though you're not there, you still want to be there."