A strategic priority of the GJCOM is to establish approaches for assuring the continuity of services needed by the increasing numbers of incarcerated women and girls in Washington State.

A variety of long-term trends, such as a declining economy, unstable home environments, drug and alcohol abuse, school drop outs, and family history of criminal activity have resulted in increasing numbers of incarcerated women and girls in jurisdictions across Washington State. Gaps between the needs of clients, available services, and the court and justice system capacity have accompanied the rapid increase in the women and girls incarcerated populations. Services especially lacking include the availability and application of gender specific risk and other assessment tools, the availability of adequate training, counseling, and probation services, and general support for reentry into broader society.