According to a Sexual Violence Awareness facts sheet on Women in Prison posted at vadv.org, “While this is true in some cases, it is important to understand the situation behind the crime. Some women are incarcerated for killing or attempting to kill an abusive partner in order to protect themselves and/or their families. Many women report engaging in illegal activities to support themselves, their children, their parents, and/or their partners. Given their circumstances, these women may not have seen committing the crime as a choice, but rather as a necessity to survive.”