Idaho has the highest rate of incarceration for women in the United States. That rate is more than double the national average. This means hundreds of women affected each year, broken families, mothers separated from children, and millions of taxpayer dollars spent by the state. Idaho has held this title for the last two years for which data is available, 2019 and 2020.
Nationally, women have become the fastest-growing segment of the incarcerated population. While men's jail populations declined from 2008-2018, women's jail populations increased by 15%. And women's incarceration rates are climbing at double the rate of men's in state prisons across the country. It is time to end this trend.
Idaho Justice Project is working across the state to lower Idaho's incarceration rate for women to the national average by 2025. This would mean 617 fewer women in prison at any time, more families united, and savings for the state of $17.3M annually. We need your help to reduce the number of women in prison in Idaho!
Many women involved in the justice system are there due to mental health challenges and substance use disorder, not violent crimes. Nationally, more than 60% of women in prison have a child under 18. And many have a history of trauma and as a victim of domestic violence, known as the "abuse to prison pipeline." While incarcerated in Idaho, women don't have access to the same high-earning training programs that are available to men. It is no wonder that after release from prison, many find it difficult to obtain housing, adequate employment, and the resources they need to be successful and to regain custody of their children.
IJP is using public education, organizing, collaboration with justice system stakeholders, and advocacy to reduce the number of women in prison in Idaho and to empower women returning home from prison to succeed.
*IJP is working with the Idaho Policy Institute at Boise State University to research what is driving Idaho's incarceration rate so that we can advocate for evidence-based solutions to this problem that will keep our communities safe.
*IJP is hosting Conversations about Women's Incarceration across the state to hear directly from people who care about this issue, especially women impacted by the justice system, and to mobilize them to take action to advocate for new policies.
*IJP is engaging lawmakers about the need for change. In March of 2022, IJP hosted a Legislative Breakfast to Support Returning Women at the Capitol. We celebrated the work that six returning women are doing to make a positive difference in their communities.
(The IJP team, honorees, and others gather with a lawmaker.)
(The group stops for a photo after being announced in the House and Senate.)
(Honorees and a lawmaker discuss the challenges of returning citizens in Burley.)
(An honoree speaks with a lawmaker.)
Our work is already making an impact. In March of 2022, lawmakers discussed the fact that Idaho has the highest ranking for women's incarceration on the House Floor during debate. IJP engaged with more than 30 lawmakers during the 2022 legislative session and was introduced on the Senate Floor for its work on this campaign.
We cannot continue to do this work without your support. Your donation today allows IJP to expand its team to include a Campaign Manager, a Communications and Public Education Director, to continue to pay our fabulous Campaign Strategist, and to fund the work of three local leaders in Eastern, Northern, and Southwest Idaho to amplify our grassroots efforts. Your donation also allows IJP to fund its research efforts, host community events to grow the number of people engaged in the campaign, and produce educational content for the public and lawmakers about the need for change.
Thank you so much for your help to reunite mothers and daughters with their families!
Idaho Justice Project is a nonpartisan nonprofit working to improve Idaho's criminal justice system, one project at a time. We elevate system-involved persons, in partnership with citizens, nonprofits, justice stakeholders, and government officials, to take action for change using organizing, public education, collaboration, and advocacy.
Our mission is to reduce the size and cost of the criminal legal system, reinvest saved funds to community-based social services that target mental health and substance use to prevent crime in the first place, and to rehabilitate people within prisons using evidence-based programs to empower them to succeed when they return to our communities.
Our Team
Erica Marshall, Executive Director
Erica Marshall is the Executive Director of the Idaho Justice Project. Prior to founding IJP, she worked as a public interest litigation attorney at Cause of Action Institute where she fought against government overreach in the criminal justice system. She completed a Fellowship at a Federal Public Defender’s Office where she represented low-income clients and saw firsthand the impact the system had on them and their families. She also served on the Board of Directors of a juvenile diversion program after watching her then-mentee cycle in and out of juvenile detention. Most recently, Erica was the Director of a statewide Smart Justice Campaign for the ACLU of Delaware that helped empower a large group of people who were formerly incarcerated to pass eleven criminal justice bills in just one session. Erica moved to Idaho to pursue her passion for the mountains but is staying here because of the tremendous people she has met along the way. Erica has worked for nonprofits on both sides of the political spectrum and hopes that IJP’s nonpartisan approach can bring all stakeholders to the table to make changes that works for Idaho and that will make our communities safer and healthier for all.
(Erica and her kids)
Sarah Hill, Campaign Strategist
Sarah is a part-time Campaign Strategist with IJP and the Director of Resident Affairs for Chrysalis Women’s Transitional Living Inc., an 18-month program for women coming out of incarceration and addiction. She is a graduate of the program herself. She has had first hand experience with adult corrections in Idaho and has a son who has spent much of his teen years in the juvenile justice system. Her vision is to empower adults and juveniles that have been affected by the Idaho justice system to make positive changes to it that will last.
(Sarah and her son.)
Our Other Work
The Project to Eliminate Juvenile Fees
Juvenile fees are costs imposed by juvenile courts on children and families for detention, appointment of counsel, probation supervision, and other services. Fees are often assessed against children who have no ability to pay and can require parents to choose between paying court fees and putting food on the table. Kids carry debt from these fees well into adulthood, continuing the revolving door of the justice system. IJP is working with the Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Idaho legislators, and community partners to eliminate fees assessed against kids in the juvenile justice system. In February 2022, Rep. Marco Erickson (R) and Sen. Doug Ricks (R) co-sponsored HB 500, a bill that would eliminate all fees assessed against children in the juvenile justice system. IJP has been meeting with stakeholders, impacted families, county probation officials, and legislators throughout 2021 and 2022 to advance this legislation. Our work as part of the National Debt Free Justice Campaign to pass this legislation in 2023 is ongoing.
Community Engagement
Idaho Justice Project hosted its Community Launch Event in October 2021. Speakers shared their justice system experience as lawyers, community partners, and formerly incarcerated individuals. In December, IJP hosted a Winter Day of Service where members of the public came to share holiday treats, learn about juvenile fees, and meet with volunteers to help them take action to reduce their own fees.
We are so excited to continue our work to improve Idaho's justice system. We could not do this work without your support.
Thank you so much for your contribution to Idaho Justice Project!
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