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 services 12

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