1. Incarceration of Women
Chapter 12

2. Acknowledging Gender: Key Differences
Sex & gender differences
Health issues
Violence against women & children
Interrelationship between substance
abuse, mental health & trauma
Socioeconomic status: employment
& education

3. Women Tend to be the “Forgotten Offenders”
women commit fewer crimes than men
female criminality tends to be less serious than male criminality
historically, women have tended more often than men to be ignored by the justice system
women constitute a small proportion of the U.S. prison population (7%) but the number of women prisoners is increasing faster than that of men prisoners.

4. Women’s Prisons
women’s prisons are located farther from friends & family, inhibiting visits, especially for the poor
women’s prisons lack diverse educational, vocational, and other programs available in men’s prisons
women’s prisons lack specialization in treatment

5. Female Prison Reform in 1800s
separation of women from men
provision of differential care for women
management of women’s prisons by female staff
Elizabeth Fry – 19th century English Quaker who was a champion of women’s prison reform

6. Characteristics of Women in the Criminal Justice System
More than one million women are currently under criminal justice supervision in the U.S.
Women comprise 17% of the total number of offenders under CJ supervision
The number of women in state and federal prisons increased over nine-fold, from 12,300 in 1980 to 114,979 in 2009.

7. Women in the C.J. System
The number of women in prison has increased at nearly the double the rate of men since 1985, 404% vs. 209%.
Women have not become more violent as a group. Women are less likely than men to incarcerated for a
violent offense (35% vs. 53%)
Women are more likely to have been convicted of crimes involving property (30%) or drugs (29%) .
Drug offenses represent the largest source of population growth for women, as opposed to violent offenses for men.

8. Who are the Women? Disproportionately women of color
In their early to mid-thirties
Most likely to have been convicted of a property or drug offense
Fragmented family histories with other family members in the CJ system
Survivors of physical and/or sexual abuse

9. Significant substance abuse problems
Multiple physical & mental health
problems
Unmarried mothers of minor children
High school degree/GED
Limited vocational training
Sporadic work histories

10. Women in California Prisons
The female prison population in California has grown more rapidly than the male prison population.
Between 1983 and 2009, the number of women incarcerated in California increased five-fold, from about 2,000 to 11,000. There are currently 9,500 women in CA prisons.
Women make up about 7% of the prison population.
There are 12,000 women on parole.
Women make up about 12% of the parole population.

11. Offense Profiles of CA Female Inmates
In 2007, over two-thirds of female inmates in California prisons were serving sentences for property (33%), drug (28%) or other offenses (7%).
In 2007, 30% of female inmates were serving sentences for crimes against persons as compared to 52% of male inmates.

12. Race & Ethnicity
African American women comprise only 13% of all women in the U.S., yet they make-up nearly half of the women in State and Federal prisons.
In 2005, Black women were more than three times as likely as white women to be incarcerated in prison or jail.
Similarly, in California, African American women and Latinas are overrepresented in our prison system.

13. The Context of Women’s Lives
Pathways Perspective
Relational – Cultural Theory
Trauma Theory
Addiction Theory

14. Substance Abuse
Approximately 80% in state prisons have substance abuse problems
About half had been using alcohol, drugs, or both at the time of their offense
Nearly 1 in 3 women in state prisons report committing the offense to support a drug habit
Women offenders in state prisons report higher drug usage than their male counterparts

15. The Drug-Crime Connection for Women
Onset in women faster & deeper
Onset of drugs first, crime usually follows closely
Dual diagnosis relationship
Role of self-medication & trauma

16. Violence Against Women and Children
Witnessing domestic violence as a child may cause increased vulnerability to victimization in adulthood
Women in the CJ system have extensive histories of physical & sexual abuse and are 3 times more likely than men to have a history of abuse
One-third of women in state prison & one-quarter of those in jails report being raped at some time in their lives
Women’s substance abuse is highly correlated with physical & sexual abuse

17. Mental Health
Women in the criminal justice system have a higher incidence of mental disorders than women in general
Female inmates in state prisons had higher rates of mental health problems than male inmates (73% of females vs. 55% of males)
Women offenders have histories of abuse associated with psychological trauma
Approximately 75% with serious mental illness also have co-occurring substance abuse disorders
Women with mental illness & co-occurring disorders experience difficulties in prison & jail settings

18. “Pseudo-families”
a distinguishing hallmark of the “subculture” in many women’s prisons (as compared with men’s)
women often cope with the stresses of incarceration by bonding together in extended “families” of convenience.
different women play the roles of various members of the family, including father, mother, siblings, grandchildren, even cousins

19. Key Issues in the Incarceration of Women
educational & vocational training
female programs tend to reflect stereotypical “female” occupations
medical services
women have more serious health problems– In 2004, one of every 42 (2.4%) women in prison was diagnosed as HIV positive compared to one of every 59 (1.7%) men
mothers & their children
majority of women are mothers

20. Children
Approximately 70% of women under correctional supervision have at least 1 child under 18
Two-thirds of incarcerated women have children under 18
An estimated 1.3 million minor children have a mother under correctional supervision
More than a quarter of a million children have mothers in jail or prison

21. Why Punish The Children?
Incarceration takes a significant toll on children who often witness their mother’s arrest and are at risk of being separated from their siblings, either by being placed with relatives or in foster care.
It is estimated that children of offenders are five times more likely than their peers to end up in prison themselves.
One in ten will have been incarcerated before reaching adulthood.

22. Major Differences Between Male and Female Prisoners
Women prisoners receive fewer visits than their male counterparts. Many states have only one women’s prison which is located far away from children and families
Women are less violent
Women form close relationships and pseudo families while men join gangs
Women were usually the primary caretaker of children prior to incarceration and plan to reunite with their children upon their release from prison

23. National Institute of Corrections Gender Responsive Strategies (Bloom, Owen, & Covington (2003) Guiding Principles
Acknowledge that gender makes a difference.
Create an environment based on safety, respect, and dignity.
Develop policies, practices, and programs that are relational and promote healthy connections to children, family, significant others, and the community.

24. Guiding Principles Continued
Address substance abuse, trauma, and mental health issues through comprehensive, integrated, and culturally relevant services.
Provide women with opportunities to improve their socio-economic conditions.
Establish a system of comprehensive and collaborative community services.

25. Barriers Facing Women Returning to their Communities
Welfare Benefits
Housing
Education and Employment
Reunification with Children

26. Legal Barriers Personal Responsibility & Work Opportunity Act of 1996
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Higher Education Act of 1998
Public Housing - Section 8
Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997

27. Recommendations for Improving Reentry Services for Women
Alternatives to incarceration should be the sanction of first choice.
For women who are incarcerated, planning for reentry should begin at the start of the prison sentence.
Women should be released from prison with the tools and support they need to succeed in the community.
Communities should be provided with the necessary resources to assist women and their families.
Public policies should promote family and community well-being.

28. The California Approach
Instituting, for the majority of female offenders who will be released to the community, a reentry plan at reception.
Promoting a continuity-of-care model which provides support services from incarceration through transition to the community.
Designing wraparound services for each individual woman including substance abuse, mental health, trauma, family reunification, housing, financial assistance, educational, employment, childcare, transportation, and advocacy.