Newswise — On Feb. 22, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will host a public briefing in Washington, D.C. on the civil rights of women in prison. According to the commission, incarceration rates for women have increased dramatically since the 1970’s – far outpacing those of men - and investigations have long shown that women in U.S. prisons suffer different experiences and deprivations than men.

During the briefing, which will be live-streamed, commissioners will hear from women who have experienced incarceration and from corrections officials, academic and legal experts on the medical needs of women in prison, family impacts, and sufficiency of programs to prepare women for life after release.

Participating academic experts include Emily Salisbury, a UNLV professor and criminologist who studies correctional policy and treatment intervention strategies for justice-involved women and girls.

Professor Salisbury helped develop the Women’s Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA), a suite of correctional assessments that measures the needs and strengths of justice-involved women. UNLV is the primary source for WRNA research, training, and implementation for correctional agencies across the U.S. and internationally. Salisbury’s research on women offenders has been recognized by the American Society of Criminology’s Division on Corrections and Sentencing, and she regularly serves as a principal investigator and technical assistant with local, state, and federal correctional agencies.

Professor Salisbury can be available to discuss her research and role in the Feb. 22 commission briefing, as well as statistics, policies, and current strategies to address the myriad issues women face in U.S. prisons.