When Survival Becomes a Crime: The Women Punished for Escaping Abuse

Research on incarcerated women has revealed a disturbing trend. Many women in jails and prisons have been subjected to intimate partner violence before their incarceration. In some cases, women have been charged and convicted for actions taken in response to this violence. These cases are part of a phenomenon known as "criminalized survival," where women are punished for acting in self-defense or protecting loved ones. The details of these cases are troubling, with some women receiving life sentences for their actions. Further information on this issue is available from Ms. Magazine, which has reported on the topic in more depth.