NCJ Number
140814
Date Published
1992
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This paper provides data on female inmates in the United Kingdom in 1990.
Abstract
Five percent of women of all ages convicted of indictable offenses received immediate custodial sentences in 1990, compared with 4 percent in 1980. The proportion of adult women (aged 21 or over) convicted of indictable offenses who were sentenced to immediate custody was 6 percent in 1990, compared to 4 percent in 1980. For women aged 17-20, it was 3 percent in 1990 compared with 4 percent in 1980. For girls aged 14-16, it was 1 percent in both years. During 1990, 3,176 women were received into prisons and police cells on remand, 2,960 under sentence and 76 as noncriminal inmates. Twenty-six percent of those received on remand and 18 percent of those received under sentence were young prisoners (under age 21). On June 30, 1990, there were 1,613 women in prison. Of those under sentence, 36 percent were serving short-term sentences (up to 18 months), 22 percent were serving medium-term sentences (over 18 months and up to 3 years), 35 percent were serving long-term sentences (over 3 years and less than life), and 7 percent were serving life. Other data indicate the offenses for which the women were sentenced in 1990, previous convictions, reconviction rates, ethnic origin, and family ties. The status of female prison establishments in the United Kingdom is also indicated. 11 references and 12 tables