Today is International Women’s Day, an occasion to recognize advancements in gender equality and the achievements of women around the world. But it’s also an occasion to acknowledge all the work that still needs to be done to truly establish gender equality in all aspects of life, including the justice system.
Women tend to be convicted of crimes in which there may be less DNA evidence, which presents unique challenges to securing justice for women who are wrongfully convicted. And nearly 71% of women exonerated since 1989 were wrongfully convicted of crimes that never took place at all.
Kristin Blaise Labato at the 2018 Innocence Network Conference. Photo by Lacy Atkins.
Women are more likely to be incarcerated far away from their children because there are fewer women’s prisons — making it difficult and costly for their children and family members to see them in person. After their incarceration, it can be extremely challenging for mothers to reunite with children placed in foster care.
The Innocence Project exonerates the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reforms the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. www.innocenceproject.org
