In most states, there is only one or a very small handful of prisons specifically catered to incarcerating women. The obvious reason for this is women are not nearly incarcerated at the same rate as are men and thus do not require the same amount of facilities. As such, female prisons tend to be more isolated - not only geographically but also in terms of accessibility to resources.
The population of incarcerated women is nearly eight times higher than its population in 1980. According to a 2004 study, the International Center for Prison Studies found that nearly a third of all female prisoners worldwide are incarcerated in the United States.
Further, more than 60% of women in state prisons have a child under the age of 18. Not too long ago, women were able to raise their children up until the age of five; after which they went to live with another guardian/relative. If they do not have a relative that the child could live with, they are typically placed in foster care.
