A new national commission bringing awareness to the unique issues women face in the criminal justice system started its journey with a visit to our Brownsville Community Justice Center.
The Women’s Justice Commission is a new national effort, chaired by former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, that will bring awareness to the unique issues women face in the criminal legal system. This nonpartisan commission from the Council on Criminal Justice brings together a group of dedicated and committed leaders from different sectors, including our Executive Director Courtney Bryan, to identify evidence-based solutions to help support the women, families, and communities affected.
Women face distinct challenges across the entire spectrum of criminal justice involvement, from arrest to incarceration, reentry, and community supervision. According to a new report released with the launch of the Commission, most justice-involved women have experienced some form of trauma, including high rates of physical and sexual abuse and intimate partner violence. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender women are overrepresented in the criminal justice system as a whole and are at greater risk of sexual victimization while incarcerated. Women are also more likely to struggle with severe substance use and mental health issues in jails and prisons. Upon reentry, caretaking responsibilities and lack of safety at home expose many women to the threat of poverty and housing instability.
As part of the launch, the group of 15 commissioners visited our Brownsville Community Justice Center to learn more about our efforts to reduce incarceration, prevent harm, and enhance economic opportunity for women impacted by the justice system.
The group had a chance to hear from young women and girls in three of our programs: the Brownsville Girls Collaborative, an intensive leadership program that helps teenage girls build a future in industries where women of color are typically underrepresented; the RISE Project, which takes a holistic approach to addressing intimate partner and gun violence; and the Young Women’s Collective Entrepreneurship Institute, a paid training program that supports young women in strengthening their businesses.
The visit was a powerful reminder that real solutions have to be created in partnership with the people most impacted, and set the stage for the vital work that lies ahead for the Commission in ensuring that all women and girls are treated with dignity both inside and outside of our criminal justice system.