Understanding the Unique Challenges of Female Incarceration – The Sentencing Project

The number of incarcerated women stands nearly eight times higher than in 1980, with over 200,000 women behind bars. There are over 7,000 girls, predominantly girls of color, in youth confinement around the country. Analyzing female incarceration is critical to understanding the full consequences of mass incarceration and to unraveling the policies and practices that lead to the criminalization of women and girls.

A fact sheet on incarcerated women and girls, is available here.