Barriers to Reentry: How inadequate healthcare behind bars sets women up to fail once they’re released

The moment a woman is released from incarceration is supposed to mark a new beginning. But for many, especially those with untreated health conditions, trauma, or chronic illnesses, reentry is more like walking off a cliff with no net below.

Incarcerated women often leave prison or jail with no medical records, no prescriptions, no referrals, and no support. After months—or years—of inadequate care, their health needs remain unresolved or even worsened, putting them at higher risk of housing instability, unemployment, relapse, and re-incarceration.