There are more women serving time in our state prisons. There is such an increase, state officials want to start some new programs to help them change their lives.

According to the state Department of Corrections, there are nearly 1,300 female inmates in Wisconsin prisons right now. They say that number has increased fivefold over the past 15 years.

Department of Corrections officials announced last year they want to create a new department that deals solely with female inmates.

Meanwhile, state officials say they'll start developing and enhancing programs to help them stay out of prison. In addition to state prisons, some local jails are also seeing an increase in female inmates. That includes the Marathon County Jail, where nearly 40 women are being held right now.

Laurie Ippolito has been in the county jail for more than a month. She was booked for drunk driving and violating probation. She says she wishes the jail would allow her to have better contact with her kids.

"My daughter, she's six," said Ippolito. "I haven't seen her in a month because it's too hard on her."

Ippolito is no stranger to jail. She was booked in the county jail 10 years ago and says she's definitely seeing more women in these cells.

"Women are just committing offenses more often than in the past and they're likely to be prosecuted at the same degree as the men," said Bob Dickman, Jail Administrator for Marathon County.

Laurie disagrees with Bob as to why more women are doing time. She says many, including men, are serving time for "bogus reasons," and blames the probation and parole system.

Of the nine women in block l-100 in the jail, seven have children. Officials say those kids are one of the biggest reasons they're looking to enhance treatment programs in state prisons.