The Truth About Women of Color Behind Bars

The Truth About Women of Color Behind Bars Women on Lockdown The United States has more than 200,000 women serving sentences, which is the largest female prisoner population on earth. x10,000 The number of women in prison or jail in the U.S. increased more than 832% between 1977 and 2007. 832% This is twice the rate (416%) experienced by men. 1977 2007 Number of Women in State and Federal Prisons I Federal prisons I State prisons 120,000 100,000 112,797 113,605 107,518 Ш 93,234 80,000 60,000 68,468 40,000 43,845 23,099 20,000 13,258 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2012 Year 2012 figures Between 2012 and 2013, female prisoners sentenced to more than 1 year in state or federal prison grew by almost 3%. 3% 2% The number of male prisoners increased 0.2%. 2012 2013 D Women of color are significantly overrepresented in the criminal justice system. D 2/3 of the women in prison are women of color. D The term "women of color" includes many groups not categorized as "white." For every 100,000 white women in U.S. 93 were incarcerated in 2008 For every 100,000 black women 349 were incarcerated For every 100,000 Latina women 147 were incarcerated Black women are Black females ages 18 to 19 were almost 5 times more likely to be imprisoned than white females. 3 to 4 times more likely to be incarcerated than white women. D The incarceration rate for black women has increased at about double the incarceration rate of white women. Latina women are 69% more likely to be in prison than white women. In Montana, Native Americans are 6% of the population, but Native American women constitute 69% 25% approximately 25% total female prisoner population. Profiling, Assault, and Sexual Misconduct P Profiling Racial profiling of women of color is especially prevalent in cases involving: In San Francisco, black women get pulled over for traffic offenses 17 times more often than white women. 188888888 The war on drugs Prostitution-related offenses 88888888 II Girls of color who are victims of abuse are more likely to be processed by the criminal justice system and labeled as "offenders" than white girls. White girls who are abused have a better chance of being treated as victims and referred to child welfare and mental health systems. Women of all races use drugs at approximately the same rate. D But women of color are arrested and imprisoned at much higher rates. D In California, women of color make up 54% of the prison sentences of women convicted of drug crimes, even though women of color only make up 38% of the state population. D In NY state, those numbers are: D In Minnesota, those numbers are: 91% 32% 27% & 5% IHI Prison sentences tii State population IH Prison sentences tii State population Sexual Harassment In 2004, allegations of staff sexual misconduct were made in all but one state prison in the U.S. and in 41% of local and private jails and prisons. 41% Studies find up to Those particularly vulnerable to sexual misconduct by law enforcement: 2 in 5 » Young women of color • Low income women » Lesbian and transgender women » Otherwise marginalized women young women report sexual harassment by law enforcement Trans Women of Color and the Criminal Justice System Sexual Victimization in Prison By another inmate By facility staff All inmates 2.0% 2.4% 2.4 | 2.3 Male 1.7 Female 6.9 White 2.9 1.6 Black 1.3 2.6 Hispanic 1.6 2.2 Heterosexual | 1.2 2.1 Non-heterosexual 12.2 5.4 Transgender 24.1 16.7 Bureau of Justice Statistics' National Inmate Suvey(2011-2012) 9 out of 10 trans women of color report facing extortion of sex by law enforcement agents. In February 2011, the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force released the largest ever survey of transgender and gender non-conforming people: hmm D 54% of respondents had contact with the police » 46% are uncomfortable seeking police help D 20% were denied equal services at some time or another D 22% of respondents who interacted with police reported being harassed by officers D 29-38% of Transgender people of color reported being harassed by » 6% were physically assaulted by police officers officers D 15% of African-American transgender people were physically assaulted by police D 7% of African-American transgender people were sexually assaulted by police D 2% were sexually assaulted by police officers D 15% report having been sexually assaulted by inmates or staff while incarcerated D 34% of African-Americans experience sexual assault while incarcerated Another study on transgender women in prison found: HI! D Black, Hispanic/Latina, and mixed race/ethnicity transgender women reported the highest prevalenceof mistreatment. 47% had been victimized and mistreated while in jail or prison 1 in 4 incarcerated transgender women reported being denied healthcare services while behind bars. Women of color disproportionately make up the rising numbers of women behind bars. The challenge is to expand the conversation and work toward solutions for racial profiling, excessive use of force, and sexual assault by police and prison staff. All women's lives and rights matter. D aclu.org D avp.org D autostraddle.com D bjs.gov D changethenypd.org everydayfeminism.com D huffingtonpost.com D ravishly.com D sfexaminer.com D tandfonline.com D tbinternet.ohchr.org Brought to you by: Designed by: logikcul GHERGICH&Co. Number of Women