Women, Prison, & the Drug War

After taking some interest in researching how women gain access to illicit drugs behind bars, I found many interesting facts about women, prison, and the war on drugs:

1. Black women are 3.8 times more likely than white women to be sent to prison while Latinas are 1.6 times more likely than white women to be sent to prison.

2.  Even though they use illicit drugs at a similar rate during pregnancy, black women are 10 times more likely than white women to be reported for to child welfare for prenatal drug abuse.

3.  A Black woman is 4.8 times more likely than a white woman to be sent to prison for a drug violation.

4.  Since 1977, the rate of female imprisonment has grown 757 percent therefore making women the fastest growing segment of the prison population.

5.  A drug offense is the most common reason for maternal incarceration.

What I found the most baffling in my research of drugs and prison is that prisons are supposed to be institutions that provide the opportunity for women to lead drug free lives, however, it seems now more than ever that prisons actually just offer opportunity for prisoners to tackle their drug use which is only continuing the cycle and odds of women staying confined to prison life.