Pathway Seekers is a non-profit organization that assists women who are navigating the transition process from the federal penitentiary system back into society. Our work is fueled by our passion for service, and an understanding that the road from the penitentiary system to normal life is long, and no one should be left to walk it alone.

 

Most people underestimate how complex it is to find a path back into society after being incarcerated. Many women have no family or friends when they are released, leaving them with few options for housing and support.
 

In 1997 there were 1,761,413 women incarcerated in local jails, state and federal penitentiaries. By 2016 that number had increased to 2,198,873.
 

Nearly 1.9 million women are being released from prisons and jails each year and their needs are more complex than male inmates. Some prison systems have started implementing gender-responsive policies and programs to address their needs. We know that women have different pathways to incarceration than men, and their pathway to success after incarceration is different as well.