Chapter 9

The Prison Experience:

Females

1

Rise of Women’s Imprisonment

Before 1960, relatively few women were in prison

Men are almost 14 times more likely to be incarcerated than women

The women’s correctional population is approximately 100,000 and continues to increase

2

Rise of Women’s Imprisonment Increases in the women’s prison population

caused by: Mandatory minimums Drug laws and accomplice liability Get-tough policies The equality movement had the unintended

consequence of eliminating much of the paternalistic effect of male chivalry

Women in Prison

Typical female inmates have had a troubled family life Were at-risk children, products of broken homes

and the welfare system Had experienced a pattern of harsh discipline and

physical abuse Many were victims of domestic violence

4

Women in Prison

Many display psychological problems A significant number of substance abuse

issues Face a high risk of exposure to HIV

Social Structure in Women’s Prison Make Believe Families – development

networks of family-like ties; this is in contrast to male prisons

Same sex relationship model – a debatable relationship that may be typified as unstable, short-lived and explosive Kinship networks Butch and femme roles

6

Social Structure in Women’s Prison Is the structure changing?

Some evidence to suggest this Some report violence as common Confinement may produce sever anxiety and

anger because of separation from loved ones Unlike men, who direct their anger outward,

female inmates may be more self-destructive acts to cope with their problems

7

Social Structure in Women’s Prison

Kruttschnitt and Gartner identify three major ways of coping: Adopted style Convict style Isolate style

Special Issues in the Incarceration of Women

Issues faced by women in prison include: Motherhood in prison Programs for incarcerated mothers Prison health care Sexual abuse

9

Motherhood in Prison An estimated two-thirds of incarcerated

women have children under eighteen Women’s correctional facilities are often

remote, negatively impacting family ties Family relationships are important for mental

health as well as post-release success Separation from their children can cause

women to feel emptiness, helplessness, guilt, anger, and bitterness

10

Programs for Incarcerated Mothers

Several states and other countries have innovative programs for mothers of young children

Women, like men, need programming that will help them with successful re-entry

11

Prison Health Care Heath Care Issues:

Failure to refer seriously ill inmates for treatment and delays in treatment

Lack of qualified personnel Inadequate reproductive health care Shackling during pregnancy Lack of treatment for substance abuse Lack of adequate or appropriate mental health

services12

Sexual Abuse Extensive history of such abuse The most vulnerable are first-time offenders,

the young or mentally ill, lesbian and transgendered

Many of these women already had a history of physical or sexual abuse

Continued extensive litigation concerning sexual mistreatment of female inmates

13

Professionalism in Women’s Prisons

A commitment to develop programming Desire to treat inmates with dignity and

respect Commitment to engage staff in prison

management and operations Refusal to accept abusive treatment from staff

toward inmates

14

Professionalism in Women’s Prisons

Provide a safe environment for both inmates and staff

Importance of staff training Model positive behavior Pursue accreditation