Abstract
This paper analyzes the limitations of Brown v. Plata (2011) in addressing the healthcare needs of incarcerated women. The Supreme Court's decision established that systemic medical neglect resulting from prison overcrowding constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. However, the ruling treated incarcerated individuals as a largely uniform population, failing to account for gender-specific healthcare needs. Drawing on legal scholarship, correctional health research, and incarceration data, this paper argues that incarcerated women experience unique vulnerabilities, including higher rates of trauma, mental illness, substance use disorders, and reproductive health needs. These challenges are often exacerbated by correctional systems designed primarily for male populations. The paper contends that fulfilling the constitutional and ethical promises of Brown v. Plata requires a gender-responsive interpretation of adequate healthcare that incorporates trauma-informed mental health treatment, reproductive care, and policies that protect women's bodily autonomy and dignity.