NCJ Number
207024
Date Published
2001
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article focuses on reviewing educational strategies for imprisoned women.
Abstract
The education of the increasing female population within prisons creates problems and a variety of challenges. In the past, correctional institution programs focused on the curriculum and strategies in male institutions. However, now policies and programs must be reassessed especially with regard to the female population. New and innovative programs must be utilized in order to return to society a better functioning and purposeful woman and mother. Women have not received the attention in education they deserve because they are the minority and their sentences are usually shorter than that of the men. The profile of a typical female offender in the United States is one that includes substance abuse, low self-esteem, and sexual abuse. The impact of the family of incarcerated mothers has become a growing national problem. Incarcerated females were the primary caregivers to 75 percent of these children before coming to jail. Single fathers or grandparents reared the other 2 percent. The number of incarcerated females has exploded over the past 20 years. In 1980 there were 13,400 women incarcerated, today there are over 200,000 women serving time in American prisons. A number of programs have been designed to address the holistic needs of female offenders and are being implemented at the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center. The staff of the center believes that mind, body, and soul should be part of the rehabilitative process. Through the use of the Center’s variety of programs, the inmates are progressing toward positive changes. Holistic education within the female prison must become a priority not a perk, if women are to be successfully reintegrated into society and into communities. References