Category: News Page

Updates on Prisons

States of Women’s Incarceration: The Global Context 2025

Prison Policy Initiative

September 2025

by Emily Widra and Aleks Kajstura 

The United States still incarcerates 614 people for every 100,000 residents, more than almost any other country in the world. Women in particular are incarcerated in the U.S. at a rate of 112 per 100,000. This may seem relatively minor, but it’s a scale of women’s incarceration that remains higher than that of any other country except El Salvador. Furthermore, women’s incarceration stubbornly remains at near-historic highs in the U.S., while the country’s overall incarceration rate has been falling.

This report helps make sense of these numbers, providing an updated snapshot of how women in the U.S. fare in the world’s carceral landscape and comparing incarceration rates for women in each U.S. state with the equivalent rates for countries around the world.

Read the full report from Prison Policy Initiative here.

Updates on Prisons

US Incarcerates Women at Rates Higher than Nearly Every Country, Report Reveals

Davis Vanguard 

September 24, 2025

By: Angelina Tun 

EASTHAMPTON, Mass. — A new report from the Prison Policy Initiative finds that every U.S. state incarcerates women at higher rates than nearly every country in the world, underscoring the nation’s status as a global outlier. According to the findings, “the United States remains a global outlier, with women’s incarceration reaching near-historic highs.”

The report compares women’s incarceration rates across U.S. states with independent nations. It accounts for all types of confinement, including prisons, jails, youth detention centers, tribal jails, and immigration detention facilities. Collectively, the United States represents only 4% of the world’s population of women but holds one-quarter of the women incarcerated globally.

The data shows stark contrasts between states and nations. South Dakota, which has the highest women’s incarceration rate in the U.S., surpasses every country in the world. Montana and Idaho also rank higher than any other nation. Women in Kentucky face incarceration rates nearly equivalent to those in El Salvador, “a country that has been described as an authoritarian police state.” Even New Jersey, one of the lowest-ranking U.S. states, still mirrors the United Arab Emirates, where “nonmarital sex can result in a prison sentence of six months for women.”

Read full article from The Davis Vanguard here.

 

Updates on Prisons

New Report Finds California’s Second Look Resentencing Policies Lead to Lower Recidivism, Especially for Long-Term Prisoners

September 25, 2025

By David Greenwald

  • “People resentenced and released under these policies had very low rates of new serious and violent offenses.” – Alissa Skog, researcher at the California Policy Lab

BERKELEY, CA – A new series of reports from the California Policy Lab and the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code provides the most comprehensive evidence to date on how California’s “second look” resentencing reforms have reshaped the state’s criminal legal system.

The findings show that people released under these policies have low rates of reoffending, especially those who had served long prison terms before release.

To read the full article from Davis Vanguard go here. 

CCWP In the News

Pardon Request for Marisela Andrade de Zarate: Protect a Survivor from Deportation

Davis Vanguard

September 22, 2025

By: Kayla Betulius

Domestic violence and human trafficking survivor Marisela Andrade de Zarate spent 15 years in state prison and nearly two years in ICE detention before finally being released on bond to reunite with her family in California. Women Prison News is urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to grant her a pardon, recognizing the strength and resilience she has shown in rebuilding her life.

Since her return, Marisela has successfully completed state parole in December 2024, meeting every condition. She now lives in her own home, works steadily, attends school, and is deeply involved in her church and local community. Women Prison News stresses that these accomplishments show Marisela’s commitment to her rehabilitation and her community, making her an ideal candidate for a gubernatorial pardon.

Marisela is also a long-term lawful permanent resident of the United States. Despite the grave danger of violence and even death if forced to return to Mexico, the government continues to pursue her deportation. Women Prison News calls on Newsom to pardon Marisela, preserve her legal permanent resident status, and protect her from the cruelty of deportation to Mexico or another country.

Women Prison News asks: Governor Newsom, please pardon Marisela Andrade de Zarate. Doing so will honor her resilience, keep families together, and uphold California’s commitment to protecting survivors of violence.

 

Organizing Updates

BREAKING NEWS! Marisela Andrade de Zarate’s court date delayed.

BREAKING NEWS!

Marisela's court date has been delayed until January 2029. Yes - 2029!

Stay tuned for further information.

Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking survivor Marisela Andrade de Zarate survived 15 years in state prison and 20 months in ICE detention before being released on bond to return to her family and community in California. She completed her state parole in Dec. 2024 after meeting all conditions. Marisela has been working, living in her own home, attending school, and actively participating with and contributing to her church and community groups for the two and a half years she has been back in California. Marisela is a long-term, lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the U.S. In spite of the real danger of violence and death if returned to Mexico, the government continues to pursue deportation.  This is Marisela’s APPEAL on her Asylum Application.

For more information reach out to –  info@womenprisoners.org