ABSTRACT
Women are not simply small men. Over 75% of incarcerated women suffer from abuse, trauma, and mental illness; most are imprisoned for nonviolent crimes. Nevertheless, their incarceration rate – increasing 700% since 1980 – has outpaced men by more than 50%, and 68% return to prison over a five-year span. The increase is traced to policy changes regarding low-level drug offenses, in law enforcement practices, and post-conviction barriers to reentry. Utilizing interviews within a Women’s prison, this chapter addresses women’s challenges within facilities designed for men, and conceptualizes the concept of “dead time;” women grappling with incongruities between woman and prisoner, resulting in a bifurcation that impedes their recovery. We advocate for non-prison design, gendered geographies, and spatial arrangements in U.S. prison environments that acknowledges the unique needs of women while preventing further harm. This is a revolutionary call for reform.
