Women in mental health crisis being jailed in prisons deemed unfit for purpose'
Women with severe mental illness are being jailed despite prisons being ill-equipped to provide suitable care.
Many women and health providers view the prison environment as unfit for purpose and there is a gap in mental healthcare and specialist support for women who have experienced trauma.
The number of self-harm incidents in women's prisons has risen by 63% in the past decade. [ more ]
"Every woman's worst nightmare": Lawsuit alleges widespread sexual abuse at California's women's prisons
130 former inmates at California's women's prisons are suing the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and correctional officers for sexual abuse.
The lawsuit alleges that the officers targeted and isolated the inmates, forcing them to perform sexual acts.
The women faced further abuse and punitive actions if they reported their assailants. [ more ]