Women in Prison Project

Women in Prision Project

Created in 1991, the Women in Prison Project (WIPP) is the arm of the CA dedicated to addressing the effects of the state's criminal justice policies on women and their families.

WIPP carries out an integrated and strategic program to:

  • Reform criminal justice policies to ensure they address women’s specific needs, protect women’s rights and treat people and their families with fairness, dignity and respect.
  • Ensure that prison conditions for women are as humane and just as possible.
  • Stop the misuse of prison as a response to the social problems that drive crime.
  • Facilitate the involvement and leadership of currently and formerly incarcerated women in efforts to reform policies that directly affect their lives.

Using unique statutory authority granted to the Association in 1846, WIPP monitors conditions in women’s prisons in New York – a role played by no other group in the state or country. 

The Project carries out an integrated and strategic program to achieve its mission, including: monitoring conditions in New York’s women’s prisons under the Association’s unique statutory authority and engaging in policy advocacy, lobbying, coalition building, community organizing, public education, policy analysis, report writing and leadership development.

WIPP also coordinates the Coalition for Women Prisoners, a statewide alliance comprised of more than 1,600  people from over 100 organizations. Together, WIPP and the Coalition carry out advocacy campaigns  to reform harmful criminal justice policies and create new practices that make sense for women and that raise the standard of living for all.  In 2003, WIPP launched ReConnect, a leadership and advocacy training program for women recently home from prison.  WIPP also performs research and policy  analysis, publishes policy papers and reports, and conducts public education and community organizing. 

For more information, contact Tamar Kraft-Stolar, Director of the Women in Prison Project, 212-254-5700, ext. 306.

PROJECT NEWS

Report coverFROM PROTECTION TO PUNISHMENT: New report released by the Women in Prison Project

The Correctional Association of New York’s Women in Prison Project and the Avon Global Center for Women and Justice at Cornell Law School released a report today entitled, From Protection to Punishment: Post-Conviction Barriers to Justice for Survivor-Defendants in New York State.

The report, co-authored by the two organizations, finds that domestic violence and women’s incarceration are inextricably linked.

To download a copy of the report, or read more about the Project's initial findings, click here.

Get involved

Join our campaign to secure justice for DV survivors.

POLICY AGENDA

Protecting bonds between mothers and children

Securing justice for survivors of domestic violence

RECENT SUCCESSES

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) Expanded Discretion bill becomes law

On June 15, 2010 incarcerated parents and their children received long sought-after and critical support in their efforts to maintain ties to each other and protect parental rights.

Department of Health Oversight Victory

Governor Paterson has signed the DOH Oversight Bill into law, officially requiring the Department of Health to monitor HIV and hepatitis C care in New York State prisons and jails.

Shackling Protest PhotoAnti-Shackling Advocacy a Success

New York has outlawed the barbaric use of shackles on pregnant inmates during labor and after delivery. Sponsored by Assemblymember Nick Perry and Senator Velmanette Montgomery, the Anti-Shackling bill passed unanimously in the Senate and overwhelmingly in the Assembly on May 20, 2009.