User:Axchan/sandbox

Violence Against women and the Prison Industrial Complex
Women often feel they are forced to come together to find other options of self defense against violence besides contacting authorities, who constantly put them in carceral spaces despite the fact that they are victims of violence. And thus, this social problem contributes to the increase of the prison population and empowers the prison-industrial complex. The Violence Against Women’s Act of 1994 increased police responsiveness but failed to protect and actually targeted some women, like immigrants and prostitutes. They are often criminalized instead of helped and thus, contribute to the increasing population in prisons. It is crucial to find a response to gender violence and challenge the current criminal justice system in order to amend the prison-industrial complex. The criminalization approach increases the power of the prison industrial complex and takes power away from women.