Organizations

Women’s Prison Association

WPA is a service and advocacy organization committed to helping women with criminal justice histories realize new possibilities for themselves and their families. Their program services make it possible for women to obtain work, housing, and health care; to rebuild their families; and to participate fully in civic life. Through the Institute on Women & Criminal Justice, WPA pursues a rigorous policy, advocacy, and research agenda to bring new perspectives to public debates on women and criminal justice.

Coalition for Women Prisoners

The Coalition for Women Prisoners, coordinated by the Women in Prison Project, is a statewide alliance of individuals and organizations dedicated to making the criminal justice system more responsive to the needs and rights of women and their families.

Publications

Access to Services  for Female Offenders returning to the Community

Author: Marie Garcia with Nancy Ritter

Report examines the challenges of female reentry

The Intersectionality of  Race, Gender, and Reentry: Challenges for African-American Women

Written by Geneva Brown and published by the American Constitution Society Issue Brief, Brown  discusses mass incarceration of African-American men and the consequences the Prison Industrial Complex have had on African American women and families. (2010)

Women on Probation or parole more likely to experience mental illness

SAMHSA News Release

Date: March 26, 2012

Excerpt: A new report shows that women aged 18 to 49 on probation or parole are nearly twice as likely to experience mental illness as other women.

Fact sheets

The Top 5 Facts about Women in Our Criminal Justice System

Published by the Center for American Progress, this document presents the difficulties women during and after incarceration.

Articles

Resurrection: A mother in Prison, and Out

Publication: The Brooklyn Ink

Author: Khadjah Carter

Excerpt: Like many other women with felony records, the past haunts Mercedes. She has been denied numerous times for subsidized and low-income housing because she’s a convicted felon, and since she’s on parole, landlords are usually unwilling to lease an apartment to her. “We spend a lot of time proving yourself,” she said. “There is a stigma.”

Healing One Sista at a Time

This article addresses the gender-specific needs of women that are not fully addressed under the current criminal justice system. Roni Minter, founder of Sistas Healing Old Wounds, says “It’s a disservice when you have services modeled for male parolees…it’s like putting a skirt on a men’s program.”  Her organization works to advocate for female inmates and parolees. For more information about SHOW, visit their Facebook page.

Legislation

S375-2011: Relates to the restraint of pregnant female prisoners during childbirth

Sponsor: Senator Montgomery

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To prohibit the use of mechanical restraints including handcuffs and
shackles, on any pregnant female prisoner who is about to give birth
during transport from a correctional facility to a medical facility
or other accommodation for the purpose of delivering her child.
Permits the use of handcuffs under extraordinary circumstances where
restraints are determined to be necessary to prevent such woman from
injuring herself, or medical, or corrections personnel.