Women In Public Service (audio)

Arlene Violet is the former Attorney General of the State of Rhode Island, who was an energetic, outspoken, no nonsense "protector of citizen's rights." A former nun in the Sisters of Mercy religious order for 23 years, she entered the convent at age 18, and taught at an inner-city parochial school. Violet moved into a low-income high-crime housing project, where she "earned her degree in street smarts." Her "vow to serve those in need" and her frustration with the legal system, led her to enroll at Boston College Law School. She completed her studies and, while still a nun, practiced as a public interest trial attorney. In 1984, Violet successfully ran for political office, stating that she was "determined to crack down on organized crime in Providence and hard-core juvenile criminals." She soon earned more than 50 public service awards and a "60 Minutes" television salute as the first woman in American history elected to the post of State Attorney General. Violet currently is a practicing attorney and, fro