What is Driving Criminalization of Women & LGBTQ People?

Many people now know that women are the fastest growing prison and jail populations. Over the past four decades: 

• The population of people incarcerated in women’s prisons has increased by over 700%. 

• The population incarcerated in women’s jails has increased by 1400%. 

• The population in women’s prisons has grown at more than double the rate of men’s prison populations over the past four decades.

Note: A January 2025 update to this publication is available now! You can view and download the update here.