Full Breakdown
Abolitionists Challenge New “Trauma-Informed” Women’s Prisons Across the U.S.
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: New Women’s Prisons Planned Amid Abolitionist Opposition
State officials in Louisiana, Vermont, Massachusetts and Illinois are moving forward with construction or major renovation of facilities intended exclusively for incarcerated women. Advocates for decarceration contend that these projects are marketed as “trauma-informed” while reproducing the harms of mass incarceration. The conflict has produced protests, zoning battles and public hearings from 2021 through 2026.
Background & Context
The push to build new women’s prisons follows a broader resurgence of prison construction despite a national abolitionist movement that emphasizes decarceration over reform. In Massachusetts, a five-year moratorium on new jail building was passed in 2022 but vetoed by former Gov. Charlie Baker, leaving the door open for the 2025 “re-imagining” plan. Vermont legislators opted for a new prison rather than sentencing reform after a 2012 white paper documented “disturbing conditions” at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. Illinois’ “RISE IDOC” initiative, launched in 2024, similarly frames a new women’s prison as a solution.
Official Statements & Responses
- Gov. Maura Healey announced a 2025 plan to “re-imagine” Massachusetts’ only women’s correctional facility, describing the redesign as an “investment in people” and a “national model” of trauma-responsive care.
- Following reports of aggressive sweeps by a tactical guard unit in Illinois, the Department of Corrections said searches were “handled with gender-responsive appropriate behavior” and placed supervisors over the operations.
Criticism & Opposition
Activists argue that new facilities merely repackage incarceration. Monica Cosby, a former inmate and No New Prisons Illinois organizer, called the trauma-informed label “absurd and obscene.” Jayna Ahsaf of Project Abolition described the legislative response as a “knee-jerk reaction.” Andrea James of the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls celebrated the October 2025 zoning defeat in Essex as a community victory. In Massachusetts, Mallory Hanora warned that “building new buildings and keeping the same people won’t fix anything,” while Sandra Dostie noted that nicer rooms do not equate to better mental-health care.
Timeline
- 2021 – Vermont legislature approves funding for a new women’s prison.
- 2024 – Illinois launches RISE IDOC; Gov. Pritzker unveils plan to close Logan.
- March 20 2025 – FreeHer Vermont press conference; Tiffany Harrington denounces trauma-informed rhetoric.
- October 2025 – Essex planning commission rejects the state’s zoning request.
- August 27 2026 – Activists rally in downtown Chicago in solidarity with incarcerated women at Logan.
- June 5 2026 (scheduled) – Illinois Department of Corrections will announce the site of the new women’s prison in Crest Hill.
What’s Next
The June 5 2026 announcement will determine whether Illinois proceeds with the Crest Hill facility. In Massachusetts, the $360 million re-imagining project is slated to begin design work later this year. Vermont activists continue to monitor zoning decisions, while national abolitionist networks coordinate campaigns across states to promote decarceration alternatives such as medical parole, clemency and community-based support.