Each year, Prison Policy Initiative composes a detailed report looking at women incarcerated in the United States. The 2018 report broke down specific reasons behind incarceration, which correctional system the women are in, if they have been convicted, and how quickly the women’s incarceration rate has grown over the last few decades.
Below are some interesting findings from the latest report:
- In 2018, 219,000 women were incarcerated in the United States. A total of 89,000 were in local jails, 99,000 in state prisons, 16,000 in federal prisons and nearly 15,000 in immigration detention centers and other facilities.
- Similar to 2017, about 60% of women in local jails have not been convicted of a crime and are awaiting trial.
- After conviction, women are generally funneled into jail. A quarter of convicted incarcerated women are held in jails, compared to about 10% of all people incarcerated with a conviction.
- The 219,000 women incarcerated in the United States only represents 17 percent of the women under correctional supervision. There are over one million women on probation and parole.
- Of women under the control of any U.S. correctional system, 75% are on probation and 9% are on parole.
- Women’s incarceration has grown at twice the pace of men’s incarceration over the last 40 years.
- 80% of women in jail are mothers.
- Incarcerated women are:
- 53% White
- 29% Black
- 14% Hispanic
- 2.5% American Indian and Alaskan Native
- 0.9% Asian
- 0.4 % Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander
Comparing the 2017 and 2018 Women’s Prison Study shows a number of similarities including the number of incarcerated women, the number of women in jail who are mothers and the number of women under control of the correctional systems currently on probation. It also shows the need for additional reforms meant to end mass incarceration for both men and women.
To read the full report, check out this article.
