NCJ Number
59762
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS OF FEMALE OFFENDERS AND THE TYPES OF INITIATIVES WHICH ARE BEING TAKEN TO SOLVE SUCH PROBLEMS ARE EXAMINED IN THIS ARTICLE.
Abstract
THE FEMALE OFFENDER HAS AN EVEN MORE DISADVANTAGED ECONOMIC STANDING THAN WOMEN IN GENERAL. THEIR AVERAGE EDUCATIONAL LEVEL (10TH GRADE) IS LOWER, WITH ONE SURVEY OF FEMALE OFFENDERS POINTING OUT THAT 80 PERCENT EARNED LESS THAN $5,000 PER YEAR COMPARED TO THE MEDIAN AVERAGE OF $8,099 PER YEAR FOR ALL AMERICAN WOMEN. WOMEN OFFENDERS ARE ECONOMICALLY DEPENDENT ON MEN FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT, AND CRIMES COMMITTED BY WOMEN ARE FREQUENTLY DONE FOR OR WITH THESE MEN. ALTHOUGH A 1976 SURVEY FOUND THAT 84 PERCENT OF THE DIRECTORS OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN AGREED THAT THE LACK OF JOB SKILLS IS THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM FACED BY FEMALE OFFENDERS, WOMEN'S PRISONS OFFERED AN AVERAGE OF 2.7 VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS COMPARED TO 10 IN MALE INSTITUTIONS. VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS SHOULD BE AIMED AT PRODUCING FEMALE OFFENDERS WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY INDEPENDENT RATHER THAN TRAIN WOMEN IN JOB SKILLS WHICH CANNOT BE USED ON THE OUTSIDE. PROGRAMS AIMED AT INVOLVING WOMEN IN PRISON MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS PROVIDE THEM WITH USEFUL SKILLS IN SUCH JOBS AS ELECTRICIANS AND WELDERS. ALTHOUGH PRISON TRAINING PROGRAMS IN SUCH NONTRADITIONAL AREAS AS AUTO MECHANICS MAY PRESENT SOME INITIAL DIFFICULTIES, THEY PROVIDE WOMEN WITH EMPLOYABLE SKILLS. BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED. SOME INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS THE MARYLAND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN, ARE OFFERING WOMEN WORK PREPARATION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES DESIGNED TO EASE THEIR ENTRY INTO THE WORK FORCE. ALTHOUGH VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO ONLY A FEW FEMALE OFFENDERS, SUCH PROGRAMS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP)