Women’s prison population, correctional costs projected to grow through 2035

A new report from the Council on Criminal Justice highlights that the women's prison population and associated costs are expected to keep rising through 2035. It underscores that housing women in prison is substantially more expensive than for men, exacerbating financial strains on state and local correctional systems. This trend matters because it points to the need for more effective, cost-efficient, and gender-responsive approaches in criminal justice policy to manage these escalating costs and improve outcomes for incarcerated women.