The Facts
Mass Incarceration in the United States uniquely impacts women and girls. The Perry ‘Second Chances’ Scholarship has a vested interest in illuminating the facts related to how the current criminal justice system affects women and girls in prisons and jails throughout our nation.
The number of women and girls currently incarcerated in the overlapping jail and prison systems in the United States as of 2023. Women’s incarceration rates are twice that of men’s incarceration rates and have been disproportionately pooled in local jails systems.
The number of women and girls currently incarcerated in the overlapping jail and prison systems in the United States as of 2023. Women’s incarceration rates are twice that of men’s incarceration rates and have been disproportionately pooled in local jails systems.
%
Women and girls currently incarcerated in an American jail or prison that have not yet had a trial.
%
Women and girls currently incarcerated in US jails that have not been convicted of a crime or had a trial.
%
The percentage of incarcerated women that are mothers.
Number of women and girls released from American prisons and jails every year. Formerly incarcerated women are almost 2x as likely to be homeless than formerly incarcerated men upon initial release due to factors like sparse availability of post-release programs for women to re-acclimate them into society, incredibly expensive fees associated with probation, employment discrimination practices against the formerly incarcerated, etc.
Number of women and girls released from American prisons and jails every year. Formerly incarcerated women are almost 2x as likely to be homeless than formerly incarcerated men upon initial release due to factors like sparse availability of post-release programs for women to re-acclimate them into society, incredibly expensive fees associated with probation, employment discrimination practices against the formerly incarcerated, etc.
%
Incarcerated women in the US who identify as LGBTQ surveyed in the most recent National Inmate Survey. The study reported that lesbian and bisexual inmates are more likely to receive longer sentences than their heterosexual counterparts.
%
Formerly incarcerated women interviewed in a 2012 study for the National Institute of Justice who cited “employment, education, and life skills” as their greatest and most pressing area of need in order to transition back to the world post-incarceration.
Of the 231K Incarcerated Women in the US:
- In Local Jails 44%
- In State Prisons 43%
- In Youth Detention 3%
- In Immigration Detention 3%
- In Federal Prisons & Jails 7%
Of the 114K Incarcerated Women in US Jails:
- Not Convicted 54%
- Convicted 35%
- Held For ICE 4%
- Held For State Prison 6%
- Held For US Marshals 1%
Number of women released from American jails annually.
Number of women released from American jails annually.
Number of women released from American state prisons annually.
%
Of girls incarcerated in youth facilities for “status offenses”
Status offenses are defined as truancy from school, running away from home, and “incorrigibility.” Where these offenses are most often seen as responses to an unstable home environment and a sign of a need for mental health intervention, young girls of color especially are immediately entered into the criminal justice system instead.
Women on Probation and Parole
Women on Probation and Parole
In memory of U.S. Army Master Sergeant Thurman Perry Jr., The Perry ‘Second Chances’ Scholarship started with one goal in mind: to support those striving to better themselves and pursue higher education despite their pasts. We are recognized as a subsidiary program of The Thurman Perry Foundation, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization. EIN 86-2519876.
