Men still significantly outnumber women at the state's prisons and county jails, but it's women whose incarceration rate is climbing the fastest, according to a study released yesterday by The New Hampshire Women's Policy Institute.

Drug and Alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and unemployment are behind the increase, the study found. But those factors - and child- care responsibilities - also complicate the treatment and rehabilitation needs for women, who more often than men are their children's main or only provider.

If the trend continues, the study said, six of the 10 county jails will have to add 52 beds just for female inmates by 2012. That's expensive, not just for taxpayers, but for children and families separated by jail and prison sentences, lawmakers and corrections officials said yesterday.

"It's time we were smart on crime and how we are doing business," said state Corrections Commissioner William Wrenn, who has overseen some changes in the care of female inmates that includes more educational and counseling programs. "Let's look at alternative ways to get it done and help people become more successful in life."

Wrenn continued. "Ninety-seven percent of people in prison are going back to the community," he said. "Do we want to send them back without skills? If we do, they will be back."

Rachel Rouillard, executive director of the nonprofit research institute, said the report is the first database study of women incarcerated in New Hampshire. Researchers studied incarceration at the state prison and the county jails to better understand why women were increasingly landing behind bars and what services would help them succeed after release.

The hope, state Senate President Sylvia Larsen said yesterday, is that policy writers and lawmakers will use the study as a guide when deciding where to put the state's limited resources. Given that two- thirds of female inmates in New Hampshire have children and 45 percent of them are single mothers, successful treatment and rehabilitation is critical, the report said.

"The report suggests we can protect the public safety while also finding cost savings," Larsen said. "If we can treat the mothers successfully, we can also improve the outcomes for their children."

Rouillard said national studies show that children of an incarcerated parent are five times more likely to become incarcerated themselves.

In New Hampshire, there are about 430 women behind bars a day, but far more - about 2,300 - are under correctional supervision or on recent release from a county jail. The women still incarcerated make up a small percentage of the overall population: 18 percent of the jail population and 7 percent of the prison population.

Women's small numbers - and a lack of insight about their backgrounds - have made it too easy to overlook their particular needs, corrections officials said yesterday.

The study showed that New Hampshire has more women (38 percent) arrested for Alcohol crimes than the country as a whole (18 percent).

It also revealed that 22 percent of female county jail inmates have not completed high school. And 51 percent were unemployed when they were incarcerated. Most women are also unmarried, but many have children they care for alone.

Wrenn said his department has introduced some changes he hopes will respond to the issues raised in the report.

There's more computer and technology equipment available at the women's prison now for inmates who want to add those skills to their resumes. There are also more chances to get a high school certification and take college courses, Wrenn said.

In addition, women who violate parole by using drugs or Alcohol or who seem at risk of violating parole, can return to a Concord halfway house for a 28-day treatment program rather than go back to the prison. The treatment is better, but the stay is also shorter, which is good for families, Wrenn said.

Wrenn said there is also more mental health treatment available at the women's prison in Goffstown and the Concord halfway house.

The department has assigned a case manager to help women transition to life after incarceration. The state is also trying to use more home confinement for female offenders, the majority of whom have committed nonviolent offenses.

Wrenn doesn't know yet how legislators will respond to his biggest request and top priority. This summer, Wrenn requested $37 million to build a new 328-bed prison and 128-bed halfway house for women to replace the existing prison, which is widely considered too small and inadequate.

It's harder to summarize what treatment and rehabilitation is being offered at the county jails because each county operates individually and decides alone what services and needs to prioritize.

Richard Van Wickler, superintendent of the Cheshire County jail, joined in announcing the study yesterday and said that at his jail female inmates have access to educational programs and mental health treatment. He said his jail, however, could do far better letting incarcerated mothers spend time with their visiting children. There isn't room available in the existing jail, he said.

But given the power to change anything, Van Wickler said he'd change the state's drug laws and cease incarcerating nonviolent offenders with drug addictions. "You cannot arrest your way out of the drug problem," he said.

And as the state tries, he said, it's spending money on jail space and cutting substance abuse treatment budgets.