Hillary Clinton: women in prison - the cost in money and lives

Alice grew from domestic violence in a home marked, although at that time did not know what it meant. She became pregnant at 15 and ended u...

Alice grew from domestic violence in a home marked, although at that time did not know what it meant. She became pregnant at 15 and ended up in an abusive relationship in coming. It came into conflict with the law and if he went to jail, his daughters were 10 and 2 years. For 17 years, every birthday, every division has been lost, while their children moved from a family member of a family member.

Mass incarceration has torn families, poor communities, and too many Americans remain the height of their God-given potential. But the impact of mass incarceration on women and their families was particularly acute - and not getting the attention it deserves. I heard Alice and Tanya experiences through a nonprofit organization that works with women in the justice system. (Two Women Names have been changed to protect their privacy.)

the prison and the US prison population comprises 215,000 women - almost one third of all female prisoners worldwide and 800% more women in prison four decades. African American women are more than twice as likely to be as white women in prison.

But women are not the only ones affected when they are sent to prison. The high number of women in prison - and long lengths of their sentences - destabilizes families and communities, especially their children. Since 1991, the number of children has doubled with a mother in prison over. Mothers in prison are five times more likely than parents in prison to put their children in foster care before they fulfilled their sentences.

Time for reforms

We can not continue. It is time to reform our broken criminal justice system. First, we need to reform police practices to eliminate racial profiling and end racial disparities in sentencing. Second, we need to promote alternatives to incarceration, especially for non-violent offenders, so that families do not break. We need for substance abuse access to high quality treatment to improve, both inside and outside the prison system because of drug and alcohol addiction is a disease, not a crime - and we must treat it as such.

Thirdly, we must be deliberate, to understand the different ways that women can end up in prison, to be more attentive to the needs of women while incarcerated and more to do to help women and their families as soon as they are released. I'll set up the right policies for equality in the federal prison system and encourage States to do the same, because women follow different paths to crime than men and are different risks and challenges, both within and outside the prison walls, and each part of the system of justice, were sentenced to prison terms of rehabilitation services, should consider the special needs of women.

Research shows that women who have relationships such as friendship with Tanya man on the basketball court, are often an important risk factor for the participation to the risk of the judicial system. Most women are in prison for crimes drug or nonviolent property. About 60% of them showed addiction or substance abuse in the previous year in jail. Many of them have in violent homes, as Alice grew up and are more likely than men in prison have been the victim of sexual abuse or trauma in his life outside the prison.

And too often, a woman and her children are still living with the consequences, even after he has served his time and paid his debt to society. For people who are limited employment opportunities have been detained, an entire family is facing, effective by the time a woman punished in prison.

"The prohibition of the box" - prevents employers about criminal history in the first phase of implementation of filters, so that people have the ability to compete for jobs in a fair manner - it is a step necessary and important, but it is not enough. in addition to training and education of the interview, women behind bars still need years to return to their communities, the continuity of care and, above all a community of support. secure accommodation for themselves and their children

build your life again

Tanya and Alice Both were released and rebuild their lives. It is not easy. Tanya has spent all of his 20 years in prison and knows that grow behind bars takes different skills than in the real world. But she is intelligent and committed, holds a degree Associate and now works for children are adults degree Alice her eldest daughter in the prison itself works, and it strives to be girl graduates to see University this spring, the first rite of passage in person see. It runs fine. But together, Alice and Tanya spent nearly 30 years behind bars.

Women and support families are crushed by a criminal justice to taste - in state and federal budgets and in the life of the rails and lost economic opportunities - safer without us. Too often, people have prejudices against former convict - in employment, in housing, in everyday interactions.

We say that we are a nation of second chance - and it's time for us as to act.

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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president. The opinions expressed in this commentary its own.