An Action Plan to Advance Gender Justice and Reduce the Incarceration of Women in New York City

Right now, there are 400+ women and gender-expansive people detained at Rikers Island. Most of them are mothers and primary caregivers, separated from their families and stuck in a system designed to hold them back at every turn. Nearly all are trauma survivors, often jailed due to housing instability, untreated health needs, or survival-related behaviors linked to poverty.  

New York City spends about $500,000 per woman per year to detain them at Rikers Island, investing in punishment with dollars that could instead provide what women need to thrive: safe and stable housing, trauma-responsive behavioral health care, and peer support. Redirecting this funding from jail beds to housing, treatment, and diversion not only creates safety and stability for women, but provides opportunities to advance health and racial equity, strengthen families, and improve health outcomes through gender-affirming care. 

In a collaborative effort between community advocates and direct service providers across New York City, leading experts in women’s justice created recommendations to better serve the women’s jail population. The Gender Justice Agenda for New York City outlines immediate actions to expand opportunities for women and gender-expansive people and reduce reliance on incarceration while improving outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. 

Read the agenda here: