Deck 12: Incarceration of Women

Question 1

How do the social structures of male and female correctional institutions differ? Why do you think they differ in these ways?

Answer 1

Difference between social structure of male and female correctional institutions are as follows:
In male prisons, the inmates' group connections trigger violence and anger. This is a threat to safety and security of all prison inmates. In prison, male inmates form groups for self-protection and engage in fights with other groups. The gangs will threaten the other group inmates for their group's safety.
In female prisons, the inmates' connections are not violent when compared to male. The group behavior in female prison occurs but it is for building relationship and not for protection. The female offenders will form a family unit among themselves and they play the role of a mother, a sister, and a daughter to one another.
The reasons for different social culture are as follows:
These differences occur because the nature of male and female are different. The male prisoners are more likely to be aggressive than female prisoners. The female prisoners form a family among themselves to overcome their loneliness. The correctional institutions should try to lower down the differences in culture.
Conclusion:
Some male prisoners form a friendly union with one another. Some female inmates form groups to perpetrate violence against other group. The prisoners can interact in groups but they should not indulge in violence.

Question 2

How has fragmentation of corrections among federal, state, and local governments affected the quality of services for female offenders?

Answer 2

Corrections:
It is a term that is used under criminal justice system for describing variety of functions that are carried out by agencies of government. It involves treatment, punishment, and supervision of the criminals. There are institutions, which provide correction services to the criminals.
Determine whether the fragmentation of corrections has affected the female offenders:
The fragmentation of correction is not affecting female offenders' quality of services among federal, local, and state government. The authorities of correction institutions fragment the correction system into a number of subsystems. Fragmentation in correction system is the root cause for many problems and eliminating it is a difficult task.
However, many jurisdictions promote fragmentation in the correction process so that they can improve the correction services to the female offenders. The practice of fragmentation in correction system differs among the federal, state, and local government.
Conclusion:
The quality of correction services and programs promote good behavior and help the criminals in early release from imprisonment.
Most common services offered in corrections include education, abuse treatment, and health services for the women. In most cases, these services do not match the need of women prisoners. Therefore, the government should enhance the services to meet the need of women prisoners.

Question 3

If they commit similar crimes, should women receive the same sentences as do men? How might the unequal treatment of male and female offenders be rationalized?

Answer 3

Sentence:
The term sentence means the imposition of punishment on a convict who is guilty of a particular crime. The court declares sentence based on the magnitude of crime committed by the convict.
Determine whether women should get sentences same as men:
The women should not get equal sentences as men in the criminal justice system. The judges should treat women criminals more leniently when compared to men at the time of deciding sentence.
The court inflicts a merciful sentence because of the protective attitude towards women. Moreover, women criminals are more obedient and it is easy to manipulate them. Therefore, the court should stress the importance in providing necessary rehabilitative measures.
Unequal treatment of offenders:
In most of the judgments, women offenders get lenient punishment than men in the criminal justice system. Women criminals are more sensitive towards health problems and poor mental health. Therefore, the court shows mercy towards women during sentencing.
Conclusion:
The point of unequal treatment is not rational or objective, but there is a feeling that incarceration for women is more degrading when compared to men. The women will never try to commit crime after their first sentence. Therefore, the court should relax the pain in punishment on humanitarian grounds.

Question 4

Imagine that you are the administrator of a women's correctional center. What problems would you expect to encounter? How would you handle these problems?

Question 5

What parental rights should prisoners have? Should children be allowed to live in correctional facilities with their mothers? What problems would this practice create?