8.4: Female inmates

The difference between female and male prison populations are significant in many ways. A majority of female inmate commit a violent offense at a far less rate than male Inmates. Female inmates are more likely to have been convicted of a crime involving property crimes, alcohol abuse, or drugs. Poverty has always been a better indicator for the propensity to commit property crimes which are economically driven, often motivated by the abuse/addiction of alcohol and other drugs.

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): CFemale inmates inside their maximum-security prison. Image is used under a Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

A study conducted in California showed that 71.9% of females had been convicted on a drug or property charge versus 49.7% of males. Males also commit nearly twice the violent crimes that females commit. Female inmates tend to participate in prison programs, however female inmates have less opportunity to participate in programs than male prisoners do.

Female inmates tend to come from a lower socioeconomic status, have a lower education, possess limited skills, are single parents, and are predominately women of color. In California prisons, over half of the women are Black Americans (35%) and Hispanic (16.6%). One-third were Caucasian and (13%) were made up of other minorities. A study indicated those who had jobs prior to criminal conviction, only 37% were working at a legitimate job. Twenty-two percent were receiving a form of welfare, 16% were drug dealing and 15% were involved in other illegal activities.

Statistics clearly show there are issues of economic status and race are factors in the criminal justice system. Prior to being ruled unconstitutional the state of Minnesota had a law that stipulated first-time users of crack cocaine would receive a mandatory four-year sentence, however first-time users of powder cocaine would receive probation. According to statistics 92% of those arrested for possession of crack were Black Americans and 85% of those arrested for possession of powdered cocaine were White Americans. On face value the law was clear representation of institutional racism. A judicial system which incorporates racial and economic factors in determining who will be imprisoned is a criminal justice system that lacks justice.

Two-thirds of female inmates have children who are minors. Many feel guilty about being away from their children and are concerned they might lose custody of their children after incarceration. Female inmates utilize prison psychological services at a rate which exceeds male inmates. This is due to guild issues surrounding children, as well as unresolved pre-incarceration issues such as abuse.

Many females who are in the correctional system are either addicted to, or abuse drugs, alcohol or both. In a study done in the Las Colinas Detention Facility in California, 37% of the Females interviewed indicated alcohol was their drug of choice, 21% said heroin, 24% crystal meth, and 18% cocaine. Unfortunately, drugs are readily available in prisons being smuggled in by friends, family, trustees and sometimes by prison employees.

Many females in prison also report a history of physical and sexual abuse. In California prisons, nearly 80% have experienced some form of abuse. Twenty-nine percent report being physically abused as children, and 60% as adults, usually by their partners. Thirty one percent experienced sexual abuse as a child and 23% as adults; and 40% reported emotional abuse as a child and 48% as an adult.

Females also report abuse within the correctional system. An ongoing investigation by the Human Rights Watch Women's Rights Project documented custodial misconduct in many forms including verbal degradation, rape, sexual assault, unwarranted visual supervision, denying goods and privileges, and use or threat of force. “Male correctional officers and staff contribute to a custodial environment in state prisons for women which is often highly sexual and excessively hostile”.