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Los Angeles county will receive $100 million to invest in its jail system. The California Corrections and Standards Authority yesterday authorized $602 million for jail expansion projects throughout the state. The funds can be spent to ease the burden of realignment — the moving of state prisoners to county jails to comply with a US Supreme Court order that the state reduce prison overcrowding. The group Californians for a Responsible Budget has called on counties throughout the state to invest the millions into rehabilitation programs instead of what it calls the “disastrous policies of mass incarceration.” As low-level drug offenders and non-violent criminals are reassigned to county jails, an investment in rehabilitation or jail expansion will have a direct effect on California’s women. Nationally, single mothers are the fastest growing prison population and many are convicted of low-level crimes. Women and single mothers are also the fastest growing homeless population, a problem many prisoners face upon release.

A coalition of Los Angeles based groups that work to change women’s economic status and quality of life for the better everyday of the year is gathering this Saturday at 11am at LA City Hall to mark International Women’s Day. The action is called Women Occupy LA for the Caring of People and the Planet. A march will be followed by a rally and speak-out featuring women working to reform the Department of Children and Family Services, end the use of nuclear power in the US, improve conditions for domestic workers and end war. The coalition includes DCFS Give US Back Our Children, The Global Women’s Strike, Occupy LA Women’s Circle and Kids Village, and the National Association of Working Women.

GUEST: Margaret Prescod, Longtime women’s rights and anti-racism activist and host of Sojourner Truth on 7am on KPFK Tuesday through Fridays; she is also with with Women of Color in Global Women’s Strike

Click here for details of the Women Occupy LA event on March 10th.