While the overall local jail population is 4,700 inmates, at any given time approximately 600 women are incarcerated in Santa Clara County.

In May, the Office of Women's Policy revealed an unprecedented profile of female inmates in Santa Clara County, aimed at both understanding the impact of incarceration and establishing actions to assist women in their rehabilitation.

A large amount of research exists for female offenders at state and federal prisons. However, the report titled "Breaking Cycles, Rebuilding Lives" marks the first known formal in-depth analysis of its kind at a county jail.

The findings illustrate specific situations and problems facing incarcerated women. It also represents an opportunity to improve the effectiveness of the programs designed to help them, county leaders said.

"There is something terribly wrong when we spend more money locking up women than rehabilitating them," said Santa Clara County Supervisor Blanca Alvarado, who is the chairperson of the board's Public Safety and Justice Committee.

"Poverty, violence, and addiction converge in our local jail system and result in a cycle of incarceration that is almost impossible to break," she added. "These issues also impact children

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and compromise their health and safety. We must work together to help female inmates get back on track by leveraging all of our existing resources and effectively responding to their needs."

"Breaking Cycles, Rebuilding Lives" revealed three out of four women at Elmwood Correctional Center for Women in Milpitas are mothers, and more than a third reported having children younger than 5 years old.

According to research cited in the report, one in five children witnessed their mother being arrested and taken away by law enforcement, and approximately 85 percent of female inmates in Santa Clara County are victims of domestic violence. Young children already exposed to violent behavior are likely to be further traumatized by their mother's incarceration, with devastating and long-lasting effects, the report said.

The study, financed through a $173,258 Bureau of Justice Assistance Grant, is the result of a 16-month collaboration between the County of Santa Clara Department of Correction, the Office of Women's Policy and the Commission on the Status of Women to better understand the needs and life circumstances of female inmates.

Through reviews of current literature, interviews, focus groups, and through surveys with staff, advocates, female inmates and women ex-offenders, the study compiled information to better understand the needs and life circumstances of female offenders.

The county's Department of Correction has approached the report as a tool to learn about the needs of female offenders.

"There is much that is unknown about the needs of female offenders and their complex needs and life situations," county Correction Chief Edward Flores said. "This report will help us better understand what is happening with female offenders and target our programs and services to better meet their needs."

Research included analysis of programs and services and gender responsive strategies to improve outcomes for female offenders, such as increasing job skills, education levels and lowered recidivism.

"A better understanding of issues for female inmates is critical to lowering the jail population in our county, as well as related areas of the Child Welfare System," Esther Peralez-Dieckmann, director of the Office of Women's Policy, said. "This research provides insights about who these women are and it will help us connect the dots to help break the cycle of incarceration for women."