Women are being incarcerated at a higher rate than ever in Montana and across the nation and most of them are serving time for non-violent crimes.

Twila Johnke, 36, has been in and out of prison since 2001 for crimes of forgery, drug possession, and distribution.

Like most of the inmates at the Montana Women’s Prison, Johnke is serving time for a non-violent crime.

In fact, a 2017 Montana Corrections report revealed that seven out of 10 women, compared to three out of 10 men, are locked up for non-violent crimes.

Since 2008, the number of women in prison has grown 34 percent. The rate of incarceration for men has increased 8 percent.

Natasha Martin, 41, is just a few months in to her 5-year sentence for a drug and alcohol-related crime.

[For more of this story, written by Aja Goare, go to http://www.kxlh.com/story/3546...d-non-violent-crimes]