NCJ Number
233271
Date Published
April 2006
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This document discusses current research about women offenders and presents gender-specific strategies for jail administrators to consider adding to current operating procedures.
Abstract
Current research on women offenders has found that: more than 1 million women are currently under the supervision of a criminal justice agency in the United States; the arrest and incarceration rates for women have increased substantially since the mid-1990s; women are more likely to be convicted of crimes involving property or drugs; and incarcerated women are typically non-White, undereducated, unskilled, and have histories of physical and/or sexual abuse, substance abuse, and multiple mental and physical health problems. This report discusses the characteristics of women offenders and how they are affected by current criminal justice practices. The report also presents gender-specific strategies and six guiding principles for jail administrators to consider adding to their current operating procedures. The six principles are: 1) Gender - acknowledge that gender makes a difference; 2) Environment - create an environment based on safety, respect, and dignity; 3) Relationships - develop policies, practices, and programs that are relational and promote healthy connections to children, family, significant others, and the community; 4) Services and supervision - address substance abuse, trauma, and mental health issues through comprehensive, integrated, and culturally relevant services and appropriate supervision; 5) Socioeconomic status - provide women with opportunities to improve their socioeconomic conditions; and 6) Community - establish a system of community supervision and reentry with comprehensive, collaborative services. Information is presented on implementing the guiding principles into current jail procedures. Tables, endnotes, resources and references