In this powerful episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks speaks with Dr. Niaz Kasravi, a national expert in criminal, racial, and social justice, about the often invisible crisis facing incarcerated women in the United States. Niaz explains that while women make up a smaller portion of the incarcerated population, they are the fastest growing—and the data, funding, and solutions remain largely centered on men. She describes the “trauma-to-prison pipeline,” noting that a staggering majority of incarcerated women have histories of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other adverse childhood experiences—often with PTSD rates higher than returning veterans. The conversation challenges “they made a choice” narratives and reframes incarceration as the criminalization of trauma responses—especially for marginalized communities. They explore how incarceration devastates families: most incarcerated women are mothers and primary caregivers, and removing them creates rippling generational harm. Niaz also highlights systemic inequities like women being jailed pre-trial simply because they can’t afford bail, and the elevated risks of abuse inside facilities. Ultimately, the episode is a call to center women’s lived experience in policy, invest in real rehabilitation, and rebuild systems with dignity, love, and equity at the core.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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