Crime, Sex, and Justice: African American Women in U.S. Prisons (From Harsh Punishment: International Experiences of Women's Imprisonment, P 230-249, 1999, Sandy Cook and Susanne Davies, eds. -- See NCJ-183050)

• NCJ Number: 183059
• Author(s): Evelyn Gilbert
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 20 pages
• Sale Source: Northeastern University Press
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter documents the disproportionate imprisonment of African-American women in U.S. prisons and suggests the reasons for this.

Abstract

The U.S. criminal justice system processes more male than female offenders; however, the rate at which women are incarcerated has exceeded that of men for almost two decades. The dragnet cast by current sentencing policies and practices are bringing into U.S. prisons nonviolent, first-time, and petty criminals who are disproportionately African-American. The increase is attributable to drug-law violations and a willingness by the criminal justice system to adjudicate and incarcerate women. The incarceration of women for drug-related crimes is best demonstrated by the practices in Federal jurisdictions. In 1997, 71 percent of women committed to Federal prisons were there for drug offenses. Although the largest group of women in Federal prisons is composed of whites (58 percent versus 39 percent of African-Americans), African-American women compose the largest group of women in Federal prisons for drug offenses. The female stereotype reserved for African-American women is one that supports a punitive response (imprisonment) to women brought into the criminal justice system. The stereotype of African-American women is that they are tough and aggressive, with a tendency to be assaultive, murderous, cold, and physically strong. Such selective stereotyping ignores the different life chances of African-American women. In addition to the poverty, abuse, and limited economic opportunities that shape the lives of most female offenders regardless of race, African-American women suffer the additional disadvantages of intraracial gender oppression and class oppression. These additional burdens confirm their marginality as objects in society but mask their marginality as females among women offenders. The effect of imprisonment on women of color can be measured in at least three areas: sexual assault, devaluation of cultural autonomy, and the bastardization of dependent children. Decarceration of drug-involved offenders is the most obvious policy change that can reduce the number of African-American women in prison. 46 notes and 50 references