Coalition for Women Prisoners

Founded in 1994 and coordinated by the Women in Prison Project of the Correctional Association of New York, the Coalition for Women Prisoners (CWP) is a statewide alliance of individuals and organizations dedicated to making the criminal justice system more responsive to the needs and rights of women and their families. Certain fundamental beliefs guide the Coalition's work: (1) a society that tru

ly values healthy, safe, and productive individuals, families and communities must prioritize the use of rehabilitative, community-based correctional alternatives over imprisonment; (2) the issues facing women at all points along the criminal justice continuum often differ from those faced by men, and therefore must be identified and treated differently; (3) formerly incarcerated women should be in the forefront of the movement to challenge the criminal justice policies that directly affect their lives. The Coalition has two active Committees: (1) Incarcerated Mothers Committee and (2) Violence Against Women Committee. Coalition and Committee membership is open to all interested individuals who share the Coalition’s values and vision for criminal justice reform.