Question

What are at least two ways in which, historically, female inmates have been treated differently from male inmates? What reasons have been given for the different treatment? Describe one way in which the needs of female offenders may differ from the needs of male offenders. What are two issues related to increasing incarceration that negatively impact women in the community?

Answer 1

• Female inmates over the years have been given lesser death sentences as compared to male inmates.Actual execution of female offenders have been rare.
• But many women sentenced to death have experienced trauma and gender-based violence. Women facing capital prosecution arising out of domestic abuse in particular suffer from gender discrimination on multiple levels. With few exceptions, criminal justice systems fail women in such cases by ignoring their trauma and the dynamics of domestic violence.
• Living conditions on death row remain poor for both men and women; however, given that most facilities are designed with the majority male population in mind, the unique needs and vulnerabilities of women are overlooked. In countries that do not execute women, the prolonged length of their death sentences means that poor conditions have a disproportionate impact on their physical and mental well-being.
• Men and women function and think differently, and inmates are no exception. Although women are incarcerated at far lower rates than men, the number and percentage of incarcerated women have grown substantially in recent years.
• Women are entering prisons that are programmed for men even though their needs are entirely different.Many facilities, built primarily to accommodate men, haven’t changed to provide the supplies and support women need, advocates say. Many women behind bars are victims of sexual trauma or suffer from mental health challenges or substance abuse, and many prison staffers, including security guards, aren’t appropriately trained to deal with those traumas.
• Incarcerated women in treatment are significantly more likely than incarcerated men to have severe substance abuse histories, co-occurring mental disorders, and high rates of past treatment for both; they also tend to have more physical health problems.
• Female offenders are more likely to need medical and mental health services, child care services, and assistance in finding housing and employment than male offenders.
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