Difficulties Experienced by Women in Prison

Abstract

This article assembles data that identify some problems experienced by women incarcerated in prisons in the United States. Inequalities in occupational and educational programs offered in women's prisons in comparison with those offered in prisons for men are discussed. The impact of inadequate health and mental health services on the lives of these women is explored, and separation problems encountered by the woman prisoner and her family are examined. Some recommendations for change are suggested.

The Impact of Mass Incarceration on the Lives of African American Women

“…States with relatively small numbers of female inmates are unable to achieve the economies of scale necessary to supply an array of programs (Morash et al 1998;Braithwaite et al 2005). However, even when vocational programs were offered they were typically in gender-specific occupational roles such as "…secretarial work, sewing, and service occupations" (i.e., laundry and food service) (Sobel 1982;Lahm 2000). Nevertheless, there has been great strides made in the vocational and educational programming offered to female offenders over the past two decades; however, it still appears that there is a gender bias in the types of occupational programs offered to women who are locked-up (Sobel 1982;Lahm 2000;Richie 2001).…”

“…However, even when vocational programs were offered they were typically in gender-specific occupational roles such as "…secretarial work, sewing, and service occupations" (i.e., laundry and food service) (Sobel 1982;Lahm 2000). Nevertheless, there has been great strides made in the vocational and educational programming offered to female offenders over the past two decades; however, it still appears that there is a gender bias in the types of occupational programs offered to women who are locked-up (Sobel 1982;Lahm 2000;Richie 2001). Obtaining skills and job training while incarcerated is especially important for women who seem to commit crimes due to their inferior socioeconomic status (Seville 2008;Richie 2001).…”

“…A greater proportion of women incarcerated have children in foster care than do men (Travis et al 2003). The separation from their children and custody issues can become extremely hard for the female inmate to handle, contributing to increased anxiety and stress while incarcerated (Sobel 1982;Baldwin and Jones 2000;Braithwaite et al 2005; American Bar Association and Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia 2009). This is not the only collateral consequence, or invisible punishment, of conviction.…”

Doing mothering from prison: using narrative to explore the experiences of participants in a mother-child support program

“…Incarceration not only has an immediate impact on the current relationships of women prisoners with their children but can also create problems for them upon release (Bernstein, 2005;Sobel, 1982). The level of contact maintained between imprisoned mothers and their children is important to the strength of the family upon the mother's release (Beckèrman, 1989;Bloom & Steinhart, 1993;Girshick, 2003;Johnston, 1995;McCarthy, 1980;O'Brien, 2001;Sharp, 2003;Travis & Petersilia, 2001), but visiting their incarcerated mothers is difficult for children.…”

“…Incarceration has an immediate impact on the current relationships of female prisoners who have been the primary caretakers of young children and generally creates problems for them upon release (O'Brien, 2001;Sobel, 1982). The level of contact maintained between imprisoned mothers and their children is foundational to the strength of the family upon the mother's release (O'Brien, 2001, Sharp, 2003, but children of incarcerated women often find it difficult to visit their mothers.…”