WOMEN IN THE VERMONT CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM

• NCJ Number: 44324
• Author(s): E GATTONE; B PATTERSON; R SAMUELS; W STEINHURST
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 71 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Vermont Governor's Cmssn on the Admin of Justice
• Corporate Author: Vermont Dept of Corrections
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS ARE REPORTED OF A PROJECT UNDERTAKEN TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT VERMONT'S FEMALE OFFENDERS IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE NEEDS OF FEMALE CLIENTS AND PLAN PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.

Abstract

A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS DISTRIBUTED TO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS STAFF MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR CLIENTS WHO WERE IN THE SYSTEM ON MARCH 31, 1974. A SECOND, MODIFIED QUESTIONNAIRE WAS GIVEN TO THE CLIENTS THEMSELVES DURING THE WINTER OF 1976. THE RESULTS SHOW THAT VERMONT'S FEMALE CORRECTIONAL CLIENTS DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE OVERALL FEMALE POPULATION OF VERMONT AND ALSO FROM VERMONT'S MALE CORRECTIONAL CLIENTS. AMONG THE FINDINGS ARE THE FOLLOWING: (1) FEMALE CORRECTIONAL CLIENTS WERE MORE LIKELY TO RESIDE IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE STATE, WITH OVER 30 PERCENT LIVING IN CHITTENDEN COUNTY; (2) OVER ONE-THIRD OF THE WOMEN UNDER DEPARTMENT SUPERVISION WERE CONVICTED IN CHITTENDEN COUNTY COURTS; (3) FEMALE OFFENDERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE LIVING AT OR BELOW VERMONT'S WELFARE STANDARD AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD OR LIVING ALONE; (4) WHILE 72 PERCENT OF VERMONT'S FEMALE CORRECTIONAL CLIENTS ARE UNDER 35 YEARS OLD, ONLY 44 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL FEMALE POPULATION IS UNDER THAT AGE; (5) THE FEMALE CORRECTIONAL CLIENTS ARE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL AND TO BE REGULARLY EMPLOYED; (6) THE TYPES OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY WOMEN ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE COMMITTED BY MEN, I.E., WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT FORGERY AND FRAUD, WHILE MEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE CONVICTED OF BURGLARY AND AUTO THEFT; (7) A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER PROPORTION OF MALES THAN FEMALES HAD PRIOR CONVICTIONS WHEN ENTERING THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM; AND (8) 63 PERCENT OF THE WOMEN NEEDED SPECIAL TREATMENT, 58.7 PERCENT NEEDED HELP WITH ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, AND 35 PERCENT HAD NEEDS RELATING TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS. RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING FEMALE CLIENTS' SPECIAL ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND TREATMENT NEEDS ARE PRESENTED. SURVEY INSTRUMENTS ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).