NCJ Number
183058
Date Published
1999
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This chapter explores the impact of the war on drugs on the imprisonment of women in the United States.
Abstract
It begins by reviewing the origin of and defining the current "war on drugs" in the United States. The "war on drugs" targeted women intentionally. The increase in the imprisonment of women was a direct result of the drug policies that constituted the "war on drugs." The sentencing guidelines, mandatory nature of the imprisonment laws, focus on first-time offenders, criminalization of certain abusers, and mandatory minimums for persons with prior felony convictions brought more women into the criminal justice system and caused a tremendous increase in the number of incarcerated women in the United States. Women have historically been major consumers and abusers of drugs, whether they be illegal drugs or legal drugs. Surveys of prison populations over the years have consistently shown that most imprisoned women have committed offenses either in order to obtain drugs or to secure money to buy drugs. Most of these women, however, did not commit violent offenses. Furthermore, African-American women have suffered greatly from these drug policies. It would be more cost-effective, both in monetary and social currency, if the addicted women were treated outside of costly prison walls, walls that separate mothers from children, women from productive futures, and taxpayers from other services. 61 notes and 32 references