Jail Release Photo: Inked Pixels/Shutterstock.com

As a woman who has been incarcerated and has faced the consequences of having a criminal record and as an attorney working to help women overcome barriers to accessing employment because of their records, we know that conviction and incarceration only exacerbates underlying social issues.

The stigma and psychological effects of having been incarcerated, and the lack of reentry support upon returning home can prevent someone from accessing jobs, housing, education, and other opportunities, leading them to the "revolving door" of repeated incarceration.