Describe five ways in which women have different experiences from men in the criminal justice system.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Varies, but the most prominent examples are as follows: Women and men have different experiences both in their avenues into the justice system and their treatment while in custody. Regarding their avenues into the justice system, women are at much higher risks of physical abuse and sexual abuse, which contributes to their higher likelihood of committing crimes of survival or being arrested for self-medicating drug use. They are also much more likely to be arrested for minor crimes, such as property offenses or curfew violations, or acts of self-preservation, such as theft or violence against an abusive partner. While in custody, women are placed in more crowded facilities and receive lower quality treatments and programming. They are much more likely to need and request physical or mental health treatment, and are more likely to be motivated by a desire to see their children, reflecting the fact that they are more likely than incarcerated men to be heads of households and the primary provider for children under 18.