When Debbie Kilroy, CEO of Sisters Inside, was first incarcerated, she had not been convicted of any crime and was told it was “for her own good”.
Australian female prisoners increased by 47 per cent between 2009 and 2019, and are often victims of crime themselves, including domestic violence and assault. These women are some of society’s most marginalised members, thanks to a failing prison system and public misconception of what drives female incarceration.
“The vast majority of women prisoners are imprisoned for minor, non-violent crimes,” said Kilroy.
“These are often poverty-related, with many women being homeless or having no income immediately prior to imprisonment. About 40 per cent of the women in prison in Queensland are on remand, meaning they haven’t even been tried for their alleged crime, usually due to homelessness or untreated health issues.”
Indigenous women and women with disability are overrepresented in Australian prisons, and many incarcerated women live with head injuries resulting from domestic violence.
Article written by Emma Lennon from SHE DEFINED. Read full article here
