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Women In Prison
The number of women in prison is currently increasing day by day although men still comprise the highest numbers in jail. Women are in prison due to various circumstances. Some who are offenders end up in jail as inmates after being subjected to punishment in judicial systems. Others are staff and criminal justice system practioneers. There are also women who are in prison as suspects of crime against humanity for example violence against men they are in relationships with. However, women in prisons due to physical violence are notably less than the males in jails due to similar offence.
Mistreatments against women in prison
Female inmates undergo a lot of evil in jails some of which the prison guards are able to control but are not willing to and others they are unable to control. This happens because most of the guards in prisons are men and to a great extent increases the imbalance of power between guards and inmates. Total dependency by female inmates on the prison officials for basic necessities and privileges makes them more prone to mistreatments.
Male correctional officers harass female inmates sexually directly by use of their physical force like rape or indirectly coerce into sexual favors like better personal hygiene products and avoidance of punishment.
Women in most of the prisons undergo medical neglect. Sick inmates do not immediate medical attention for example during pregnancy cases which may lead to death or severe injuries. They receive inadequate reproductive health care or are charged for medical a service which is against their rights. Discrimination of women on the basis of race is a common phenomenon where black women are mostly targeted in sexual abuse.
Why women should be well in prisons
There are several factors that should put female inmates in a better treatment. The risk that women pose to public safety is lower compared to men. Women enter judicial systems because of less of their violent acts but more of drug or property related cases.
Given their low risks, women have parental responsibilities and significant physical and mental needs. This means that the crimes the engage in stem from unmet survival needs which may be technical violations rather than new crimes.
Risk assessment tools identify more accurately women’s needs and risks and the crimes they engage in arise from their connections with others. Therefore the treatments like housing safety and parental stress should not be gender neutral.
