When we talk about mass incarceration in the United States, the conversation often centers around numbers—how many people are locked up, how long they’ve been there, and what it costs. But behind those numbers are real people, and among them are women whose specific health needs are often ignored, neglected, or misunderstood.

This post kicks off a six-part series examining equity in women’s health care within prisons and jails, inspired by the powerful work of researchers and advocates like Dr. Carolyn Sufrin and her co-authors. Their 2021 article, “Women’s Health Care in the Criminal Justice System,” exposes the critical gaps in how incarcerated women are treated—or not treated—when it comes to their health.