The two largest women's prisons in the world are located outside of Chowchilla, California and imprison close to 8,000 women. • the women's prison population in the United States has grown by almost 500% since 1980 • there are over 11,000 women in prison in California alone • women of color are disproportionately locked up in greater and greater numbers, comprising 60-80% of imprisoned women • women in prison face extreme medical neglect, sexual harassment and abuse • women in prison are emotionally and physically isolated from their children, other family members and their communities • in this historical period the answer to poverty is to lock people of color and poor people of all races in prison • we believe in working toward a society that no longer relies on prisons but instead invests resources in making communities stronger