Forgotten Group: Women in Prisons and Jails (From Women at the Margins: Neglect, Punishment, and Resistance, P 55-86, 2002, Josefina Figueira-McDonough and Rosemary C. Sarri, eds. -- See NCJ-197190)

• NCJ Number: 197191
• Author(s): Sheryl Pimlott; Rosemary C. Sarri
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 32 pages
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter reviews the statistics on women in prison in the United States between 1980 and 1999, considers trends in crime committed by females, discusses the behavior and attitudes of women in prison, provides an overview of the history of the incarceration of women, and profiles the characteristics of female inmates as well as their conditions of confinement.

Abstract

The incarceration of women in the United States in 2002 reflects a flawed public policy, as the number of women imprisoned continues to increase each year despite the substantial decline in crime during the previous decade; however, there is some evidence in selected States (e.g., California) that drug abusers are being sentenced to regimens of treatment rather than to prison, and the arbitrary use of the "three strikes and you're in for life" has been eliminated from sentencing policy. An analysis of crimes committed by women indicates that few of their crimes warrant incarceration because of a threat to public safety. Moreover, the inadequate programs and inhumane conditions of confinement only exacerbate the problems that led to the women's crimes. Community supervision has been shown to be at least as effective, if not more effective, than incarceration in reducing recidivism. The overrepresentation of poor minority women in prison has occurred largely because these women lack the equal protection of the law that is afforded to majority women. This chapter recommends that changes be made in drug laws and policy so that persons charged with use, possession, or sale of small amounts of drugs are not incarcerated; that the incarceration of women with minor children be scrutinized to determine whether it is necessary; that improved health care services be provided female offenders; that prisons be opened to monitoring by community groups and residents; that strict enforcement of staff violations toward inmates be implemented; and that inmate academic and vocational education be upgraded to enhance women's prospects for employment after incarceration. 1 table, 7 notes, and 91 references