Criminalized Survival

"Criminalized survival" refers to the process where victims of abuse are prosecuted for actions taken to survive their situation, such as self-defense, complying with an abuser's demands, or failing to protect their children. This phenomenon occurs when the criminal justice system fails to support survivors and instead penalizes them, transforming them from victims into "offenders". Individuals who are Black, poor, transgender, or disabled are disproportionately affected.