Discuss the characteristics of female inmates and how female inmates differ from male inmates. How should these characteristics affect treatment and reentry preparation of female inmates?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The majority of female offenders are minority members. In addition, approximately half have no high school or general equivalency diploma, and over half were unemployed at the point of incarceration. In addition, nearly half were single prior to incarceration while nearly three fourths of the women were the primary caretakers of minor children at the point that they were incarcerated. Female offenders are disproportionately low-income women of color who are undereducated and unskilled with sporadic employment histories. They are less likely than men to have committed violent offenses and more likely to have been convicted of crimes involving drugs or property. Often, their property offenses are economically driven, motivated by poverty and by the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Women face life circumstances that tend to be specific to their gender, such as sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and the responsibility of being the primary caregiver for dependent children. Studies have shown that programs conducive to treatment success of female offenders should use female role models and pay particular attention to gender-specific concerns not common to male offenders. Treatment plans must be individualized in structure. Female offenders must be able to acquire needed life skills, and treatment programs must address victimization issues. These are needed to prepare female inmates for reentry and to make their time in prison more constructive.