In this particular blog for week five, I will be
discussing chapter six Women’s Incarceration. The first factor to
recognize in the United States, more than one million women are behind bars or
under the control of the criminal justice system. Our text book indicates that
the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) is the largest women prison in
the world. Inmates at CCWF are classified according to their level of security
risk derived from the offense for which they were arrested. It is noteworthy
that I mention over 75% of the inmates are classified as low risk (Banks 2013,
p.145). When dealing with women being incarcerated research gives information
which indicates that 52% of incarcerated women are alcohol or drug dependent.
Although the public commonly believes most females prisoners are incarcerated
for minor offenses, sentences for petty crime are usually served in jails;
prisons hold the more-serious offenders. According to the Bureau of Justice
Statistics, at the end of 2005 approximately 35 percent of female state prisons
were serving sentences for violent offenses. What
can we say is the reason for so many women being incarcerated? There
are arguments which
states, “Women care to take role and
lack of options forces many into crime to support their children.” If so, what
can we do? Assistance with health care is a start as well as affordable housing,
and increasing living wages. In my opinion if something is not done quickly the
problem will get worse. Simply
said, once these women are released from jail/prison many have nowhere to go and
must find a place to live, but federal laws restrict subsidize housing for
former prison inmates. Now the pressure is back on , and they find their selves
back into the life of crime.
References:
Banks, C. (2013). Criminal Justices Ethics (3rd ed.)
Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publication, Inc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRAkoKCqNlo
Frederick,
ReplyDeleteYour post was interesting. The possession, use and distribution of drugs are at times called a victimless crime, in which I disagree. Women in the correction system sometimes leave behind children. Although fewer women are in prison in relation to men, women usually represent the nurturing family member. You are correct about something must be done. You mention health care, increased wages and affordable housing. I also think more education is needed. I’m not implying women with drug usage problems are uneducated, I just think more education within the inner city might help some of these women.
Frederick: You have written an interesting blog on the incarceration of women. You quoted many statistics. I would like to read more of your views on your subjects in your future blogs. Professor Taylor
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