Vermont sees decline in female inmates

The Burlington Free Press reports that over the past two years, "the number of female inmates in Vermont's prison system has dropped 40 percent, thanks in part to programs specifically designed to keep them out of prison." State Sen. Richard Sears, who chairs the Legislature's Corrections Oversight Committee, called the drop "dramatic." He added that "credit should go to those who made a variety of treatment and social programs available to female offenders." For example, the new female prison in St. Albans is "designed to help address the special issues women face." At the St. Albans' facility, "programs will teach [female inmates] skills that include construction. In addition, "a section of the prison is devoted to mentally ill inmates and women will be able to work in the garden, greenhouse, print shop and other vocational programs."

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