The female U.S. prison and jail population has increased by over 700% over the past four decades, rising to 215,000 women, with black women more than twice as likely to be in prison than white women. We need to have an honest conversation about the state of women in prison, and discuss how we can help. However what women in prison need is more exposure. Yes, reform in this country needs to include better mental health and trauma services for women in the criminal justice system. Life for women behind bars is far from easy, especially when women face serious gender-specific issues that men simply do not.

Source: Huffington Post August 04, 2016 15:22 UTC