Criminal Justice: Women in Prison
In this paperwork, I am going to discuss issues in the incarceration of women such as mental illness, pregnancy, substance use, separation of family, as well as the environment.
When the term Prisons is mentioned, we automatically switch our mind to young men, since approximately ninety percent of inmates are male, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is important to note that the proportion of imprisoned women is small, but this proportion consists of hundreds of thousand women, at present, living behind bars in the United States. Currently, the number of women wedged in the criminal justice system continues to increase- a good number of these women struggle with psychological illness, accounts of bodily and sexual abuse, as well as substance abuse. According to my stand, incarcerated women are likely to have more severe health tribulations than men (Brien, 2013).
Literature review has it that incarceration of women has distressing effects on them and their families, because of the barricades women face as a result of their criminal deeds. Literature review has it that over the past twenty years, the combat on drugs has caused a considerable ascend in the number of women imprisoned. The majority of these numbers, incarcerated women, have been victims of physical or sexual suffering at the hands of men; for example, ninety two percent of incarcerated women in California prisons have been mistreated and battered, sexually, in their prisons life. Among the incarcerated women, a good number comprises of mothers who have minor children- they are habitually the main caregivers of their kids before imprisonment and are excessively persecuted by disturbing, bodily, as well as sexual abuse in their history (Rogers, 2012). The sentencing laws passed by the Congress should be revised so as to handle incarcerated women efficiently by taking into account that mothers and fathers face dissimilar conditions; for example, the majority number of incarcerated fathers report that their kids live with their companions. On the other hand, only a trivial fraction of incarcerated mothers report their kids live with the husband during the time of incarceration. In order for these sentencing laws to make sense to incarcerated women, then they have to be revised since many needs of incarcerated women are overruled. It is even shocking that male staffs dominate in these prison facilities, thus, affecting incarcerated women psychologically- we expect more female staffs in these facilities since they are more aware and conversant with the needs of incarcerated women.
In some cases, imprisonment of women has led to destruction of family network- families frequently fall apart as a result of women imprisonment. It is a fact that most of the people would not like to be associated with criminals, but women are more likely to be affected by this fact than men. The probability of a man divorcing his wife is very high after his wife is convicted of having committed a crime. The incarcerated woman may end up developing mental disorders, since they fear or they were not willing to handle the negative response from either the husband, or relatives. The separation may lead to severe mental illness, whereby, the imprisoned woman may end up committing suicide- programs should, therefore, be adopted so as to help in identifying such symptoms and taking the appropriate actions (Brien, 2013).
Literature review has it that imprisoned women receive little consideration in criminal justice modification procedures. It is important to note that incarcerated women requires some precise gender needs that vary from those of men in prison. In order to bring sense to this point, it is important to note that, in the past, illegal deeds were mainly associated with men; therefore, the sentencing policies were mainly based on men needs. Nothing is static, therefore, the congress should put some efforts so that the needs of women are also incorporated in the sentencing policies, thereby, minimizing the various issues that have been facing incarcerated women today. It is important to note that most of the programs used in women prison are actually borrowed from male facilities, thus, failing to meet the needs of incarcerated women appropriately (Enders, 2010).
The criminal justice system should adopt productive and fruitful measures; for example, devoting to psychotherapy cure for such disturbing pasts and rehabilitative cure for substance obsession rather than the current trend that is said to send more women to prisons- nonviolent drug related crime have seen a good number of women go to prisons. The jails and prison facilities are not the solutions to most of these incarcerated women, especially the drug abusers; therefore, the criminal justice system should implement other effective alternatives in order to have better results (Rogers, 2012).
Mental illness: including bipolar turmoil, hopelessness, as well as shock related disorders are extensive among incarcerated women. Literature review has it that mental illness itself is a risk factor that can land women in jail. A report published by Psychiatric Services in Advance indicated that one out of three imprisoned women meets decisive factors for past-year severe mental illness, and almost have of this incarcerated group have rigorous purposeful mutilation. Numerous studies have been conducted in order to curb this issue and the results have had significant link; for example, incarcerated women were found to have elevated rates of substance maltreatment, reliance, as well as rebellious traits disorders. The elevated rates of psychiatric turmoil, substance maltreatment, as well as emotional suffering linked with exposure to disturbing events recommends that incarcerated women have a need for cure for substance maltreatment and other psychological health tribulations (Gainsborough, 2008). In New Jersey, it is depicted that prisons have been improving access to behavioral health cure among incarcerated women. The prison, in New Jersey, has also reported that the incarcerated women may have stayed away from prison if treatment had been provided in the community early, especially for substance interrelated tribulations (Enders, 2010).
In order to end this issue, mental illness, the federal and state governments have a command to give access to sufficient medical care, including psychological health care. Incarcerated women suffering from mental illness conditions are depicted as being violent and if nothing is done to address this issue; they can harm their fellow inmates or end up committing suicide- experienced in severe cases. In order to prevent severe cases from occurring, the vicious mentally ill women should be kept in restrictive cells (Rogers, 2012). As I mentioned earlier, mental illness are caused by numerous factors and it also important to note that the new environment play a significant role towards incarcerated women becoming physically challenged. The prison environment functions on gender-neutral guiding principles that have a pessimistic crash on the psychological and physical health of incarcerated women. Another issue that needs to be addressed is privacy, whereby, the incarcerated women are observed all the time even when performing their personal care. This issue on privacy has made the majority number of incarcerated women to endure further harm leading to psychological illness. The prison facilities are located far away from their home, thus, separating incarcerated women from their children (Gainsborough, 2008).
As depicted above, mental illnesses are as a result of numerous factors, therefore, the war on this issue cannot be won by a single party, but it requires the effort of every party that is involved. The incarcerated women faces tough time trying to adjust from their past environment to the new environment and many of them will end up living in denial, thus, creating a good environment for the growth and development of mental disorders. Experts in this field should be incorporated in women prisons before things get out of control by making incarcerated women even worse. Women are incarcerated so as to adopt good behaviors that conform to the norms and ethics of the society, therefore, prisons facilities should ensure this happen. It is argued that the closure of mental hospitals that took place in 1970s could be the reason as to why we are experiencing a higher rate of women being imprisoned- jails are, therefore, the substitute institutions for psychologically ill persons (Enders, 2010).
The health care needs for incarcerated pregnant women are barely met by the prison schemes. The majority of these incarcerated women have high risk pregnancies due to the societal and financial problems that may have led them to being imprisoned; for example, insufficient health care, shortage, substance maltreatment, as well as inadequate level of education. It is hurting and inhumane hearing news about incarcerated pregnant women laboring in shackles. It is now clear that prison settings in the United States are frequently penalizing and replicate the same communal misbehaviors the scheme is trying to wipe out. Incarcerated women who give labor also lack proper screening as well as appropriate medical treatment, thus, leaving them and their kids at risk for lifetime health tribulations (Rogers, 2012). Currently, the number of pregnant incarcerated women is on the rise, therefore, it is important to distinguish that failing to provide healing and disincentive healthcare for these incarcerated women may cost more to the public than backing programs that might develop affection and parenting behaviors, lessen recidivism among this population of incarcerated women, as well as facilitate drug treatment. Another point to note is that incarcerated pregnant women lack sufficient prenatal care presenting health check, learning, dietary, environmental, as well as relatives- support services. After incarcerated women give birth, they are not given time to spend with the new born so as to establish a healthy bond with the new born- separation happens almost immediately after birth. This is one of the major issues facing felony policymakers’ in our day- separating the child from the incarcerated mother. The newborns are either given to the family members or placed in foster care directly after labor (Gainsborough, 2008).
Incarcerated women are depicted as having more challenges to conquer in dealing with their pregnancies and their labor incidents, developing into motherliness, and giving sufficient parenting to their kids. Incarcerated women pregnancies are considered as high risk events since they are mostly complicated by the following acts; alcohol maltreatment, drug, sexually transmitted disease, as well as smoking. The majorities of incarcerated women have histories of drug abuse; therefore, incarcerated mothers and kids are at greater risk for increased postnatal mortality and morbidity. It is also important to note that shackling incarcerated women in transfer to prenatal care and during labor and relief can hinder needed medical care. The mother can also suffer from extreme pain and complication as a result of her inability to move without restraint. In broad, incarcerated pregnant women are transported to remote medical facilities to give labor, since their prison institutions are not medically equipped to carefully give such services. These labor transports frequently result in abundant medical and psychological health difficulties; for example, safety precautions enhance a woman’s risk of damage and tension. Miscarriage and abortion are common terms in these facilities due to the prevailing harsh environment (Enders, 2010).
In order to solve this issue, pregnancy, professionally, the federal and state governments should implement relevant policies to support stipulation of perinatal care for expectant and postpartum imprisoned women that follow the guiding principles of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The correctional officers need to be educated on issues specific to incarcerated women since this an upcoming area of concern. Most of the incarcerated women have been linked with cases involving drug abuse; therefore, the government should look at these issues carefully and provide appropriate programs- educational programs to be precise (Rogers, 2012).
A study conducted by the United States Department of Justice depicted that more than forty percent of incarcerated women were under the authority of drugs at the time of their transgression. At this point, it is clear that the Congress is responsible for making laws, especially sentencing laws; therefore, we should remain optimistic that those changes will came to happen (Brogan, 2012).
Literature review has it that the leading psychological health tribulations of incarcerated women are substance abuse, dejection, as well as shock from corporeal and sexual mistreatment. As depicted in the paper above, the solutions to these issues are more complex and nothing will happen rapidly, but is a process that will take time and consume money. Small adjustments, such as behavioral treatment, improved counseling in prison, as well as allowing incarcerated women to serve their sentences in facilities that make it easier for them to retain contact with their kids have been implemented in numerous prison facilities. However, the skyrocketing rate of incarcerated women should trigger the congress to act- the congress should come up with better sentencing policies that incorporate the needs of incarcerated women (Enders, 2010).
References
Jenni Gainsborough, Women in Prison: International Problems and Human Rights Based Approaches to
Reform, 14 Wm. & Mary J. Women & L.271 (2008), http:// scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl/vol14/iss2/5.
Brogan Currie, Women in Prison: A Forgotten Population? Journal of Criminology 2012 ISSN 2045-6743
O’ Brien, P. (2013). Incarcerated Women. Encyclopedia of Social Work.
Enders, S.R. (2010).Working to Improve Health Care for Incarcerated Women. Interrupted Life
Experiences of Incarcerated Women in the United States, 259-263.
Rogers, J. D., Ramaswamy ,M., Cheng, C., Richter, K., & Kelly, P.J.(2012).Perceptions of
neighborhood social environment and drug dependence among incarcerated women and men: A cross
sectional analysis. Sbst Treat Prev Policy Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 7(1),39.
