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Women in Prison

A photo shows a White woman with blond hair holding her baby and pressing her face to the baby’s head inside a prison dorm room. The baby is in a pink onesie, and there are baby clothes and other supplies around the room.
The Frame May 8
Raising Innocence
An Indiana Women’s Prison unit gives incarcerated people a place to raise their newborns on the inside, rather than forcing them to give their babies up after birth.
By Maddie Mcgarvey
An illustration shows the head and shoulders of Kwaneta Harris, a Black woman with long hair. She is wearing a white shirt, and several images surround her. Clockwise from the bottom left are: a child on the phone, some pink flowers, a flower with petals made of newspaper articles and letters, another young person on the phone, and a window with a white lace curtain. Birds are visible through the window. The background of the illustration is peach-colored.
Life Inside May 8
For This Mom in Prison, Mother’s Day Is a Blessing and a Curse
Kwaneta Harris has missed every single Mother’s Day with her 19-year-old. That means walking on eggshells, icy politeness and the occasional mom joke.
By Kwaneta Harris
A photo collage shows, from left: a hand holding strands of hair; a person sweating; a prison door with a hand-drawn scribble over the bottom of the photo; a hand in shades of red over fencing; anonymous women in blue prison uniforms sitting on chairs in a row; a woman holding her head, with a paint scribble over the top of the image.
Feature April 14
What It’s Like to Go Through Perimenopause and Menopause in Prison
Limited information and a lack of informed health care providers make this life transition even more difficult for incarcerated people.
By
Redemption Songs April 12
The Bootlegging, Blues Singing Star of 1930s Prison Radio
Hattie Ellis was poised for post-prison fame. Then she encountered shotcallers who didn’t value her voice.
By
A black and white photo composite shows a photo of a Black woman wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and a black vest holding a uniform, standing in front of a building. In what looks like a double exposure effect, a photo of trees and fencing is visible, as well as an image of the outline of a map of Texas, with the word “Bryan” in the center.
News March 27
A Women’s Prison Conceals a Sinister Secret: Staff Sexual Misconduct, Accusers Say
Some employees at a Texas federal prison that holds high-profile women including Ghislaine Maxwell said they faced retaliation for reporting abuse.
By and Erik Ortiz
An illustration with a black background shows the head and shoulders of a woman, upside down, with her wavy hair hanging down and turning into waves of water. She is in tones of brown and sea green, and droplets of water shake off of the hair to the right.
Life Inside March 20
My Long Hair Isn’t a Vanity Project. It’s My Last Connection to Life Outside
In this foreign landscape of state-issued orange, my hair feels like all I have left of my identity.
By Lindsey Smith
An illustration shows three people on patient beds inside a dark room, with the orange sky visible through the window. On the right side, there are dark silhouettes of dialysis machines and tubes with puddles of water on the floor.
Feature December 16, 2025
Women Are Sent to This Federal Prison for Dialysis. They Say It’s Killing Them.
Patients at Carswell medical prison in Texas describe unsanitary conditions, missed treatments and substandard care.
By Kaley Johnson
[Use this form](https://airtable.com/appR7SW9BhPZGdXp9/pagDZ0cMp3LJ9uimP/form) to tell us about how menopause and perimenopause affects women behind bars.
Get Involved December 16, 2025
What’s It Like to Go Through Menopause in Prison? We Want to Know
Your insights will help inform a guide about the critical life stage that we’ll share with incarcerated people.
By
A man wearing blue pants and a white T-shirt dangles from and holds onto the threads of an American flag against a city skyline.
Life Inside July 4, 2025
What, to the American Incarcerated Person, Is Your Fourth of July?
In the spirit of Frederick Douglass’ historic speech, 20 currently and formerly incarcerated Americans explain what Independence Day means to them.
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A pregnant woman wearing an orange prison uniform places her hand on her belly.
Closing Argument May 10, 2025
Why We Still Don’t Have Enough Solid Data on Pregnancy in Prison
A new report sheds light on pregnant people behind bars, but misses their lived experience.
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