Female Offenders in Prison - Assignment Example

Female Offenders in Prison Describe or Define the Prison Population You Have Chosen To Write About The United s have the largest prison population in the world. Accordingly, it has been observed that incarceration rate of female is also largest in the US as compared to any other nations in the world. The recent scenario pertaining to prison population in the US has revealed rapidly growing rate of women prisoners. The percentage of correctional population within the community and jails has decreased in the context of male offenders while it has increased dramatically in the case of female offenders. On further observations, it has been reckoned 2.2% growth in the female imprisonment population in the year 2000 while in the same year 1.3% for male offenders was recorded. Accordingly, 113000 female offenders have been observed to be incarcerated in the State and the Federal correctional facility. During the tenure 2000 to 2009, the female offenders within the State or the Federal prisons upsurge radically by 21.6% as compared to 15.6% in the case of male offenders. The increasing trend in term of female incarceration has raise significant concern within the American society. At the same time, cases such as r sexual assault, groping and sexual extortion during the tenure of female imprisonment have also raised several questions regarding correctional facilities and correctional officials. On further note the racial/ethnic composition of prison population has also observed change vastly. A pictorial representation given below depicts the changes within the female inmates based on ethnic and racial background for the period 2000 to 2009. Change in the demographic ratio of the female inmates during the period 2000-2009 (Mauer, 2013) In accordance to Mauer (2013) a considerable change has been observed in women inmates grounded on race/ethnicity. In this context, it has been determined that there is one possible reason for the change in the decreased rate of imprisonment with respect to that of black females. The possible reason is the involvement of the black female in criminal activities has decreased to considerable extent (Mauer, 2013). As further observed, it has been determined that the US prisons had showed a declining rate of female offenders population in the year 2012. Around 1.7% decline was observed in the female prisoners during the year 2012 over the preceding year 2011(Carson & Golinelli, 2013). 2. How Does Our Society View Female Offenders In accordance to the societal view, the understanding pertaining to the women’s life has dramatically changed. In this aspect, recent development of women has opened up new ways and motivational path for them in the fields of health, education and employment among others. Apart from this there are other fields also that have taken initiative in executing development program for women. The fields pertaining to the criminal justice have also undergone developments with regards to the female offenders. It is important to have an in-depth knowledge and understanding about the importance of gender differences, which is inherited within the society. It has greatly been observed that society has always looked upon the issue related to women offenders in low sense. It has been further observed that many of the female offenders have experiences complex and mental health issues due to the societal beliefs. On further note, it has been conveyed that women proportion within the prison constitutes a smaller part. In this aspect, the crime conducted by the female offenders poses great threat to the society as well as their families. In-fact, it has been well assumed that the society still remains unaware about the female offender’s reality pertaining to their circumstances. Correspondingly, the society views differently the female offenders to that of male offenders. In this aspect, offending females have been provided with various roles to identify themselves. Media plays a vital factor in creating the image in front of the society with regards to the female offenders. Further discussions revealed that female offending has always been portrayed by the media in front of the society in a much sexualized manner. This creates a greater impact on the minds of the people dwelling within the society. In-fact, the female offender convicted for not following the probation period is not provided assistance from the society. Under the jurisdiction of the Federal welfare law, it mainly prohibits assistance for the female offender’s in-case of missing out the probation period. The programs by which the Federal Welfare Law regulates its policies are Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplementary Security Income (SSI) among others. The women offenders have greatly changed the crime policies of the US. The government regulations have made the entire society more complex and also have forced federal laws within the society (Covington, 2001; Brennan & Vandenberg, 2009; Social Exclusion Task Force, 2009). 3. Do Prisons Provide Any Special Services for This Population and What Kinds of Services In order to normalizes the female offenders, there are numerous services that creates a culturally plan for coordinating the continuum services being located within the community. The various organizations that get involved in providing assistance to the female offender’s such as health services, emergency children’s services, educational services, and vocational training and drug programs among others after female offenders are release back to the community. It has been observed that the services offered by the organizations to female offenders have proven to be beneficial for them as it addressed multiple requirements in an effective manner. In-fact on further observation, it has revealed that the requirement for the services are more in the offenders those who faces complex problems (Covington, 2001). Eventually, the programs and the services being provided for the female offenders are basically to meet up their requirement pertaining to the social, psychological and the physical aspects. The Federal Bureau of Prison (BOP) has been established in the year 1993 and has initiated several ‘programs to provide assistance to female offenders. These programs are implemented in order to fulfill the requirements of the female offenders. On further observation, it has been ascertained that the service such as educational facilities offered to the female offenders have resulted in the development of female offenders in in large scale. BOP as the service program provides the female offenders medical as well as the social services during the time of pregnancy, child placement and also abortion. On further note, the inmates are at first screened during the time of admission. In this regard, the clear instruction is given to the medical staffs to inform immediately on the receivable of any news related to pregnancy. It has been further conveyed during necessity, the medical services to the female inmates are provided at outside institutions. Apart from this the BOP also provides ‘community residential program’ for the female offenders, who are pregnant. As discussed the BOP institution also provides funds for the services pertaining to the abortion, only in case of mother being endangered, if the fetus is allowed to progress. The BOP also provides funds for the abortion purposes in case of rape. These are few services that have given a new way and life to the female inmates. The programs being offered by the BOP are accredited under the U.S. Department of Labor along with Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training, with a motive to provide ample opportunities to the female offenders (NIC, n.d.). 4. Include a Brief Case Study or Example According to the survey report of the Fretz et al., (2007), a case example has been given that depicts about the gender-responsive approach. Ms. Jones has been kept in the prison on parole for being involved in the distribution of cocaine. On further note, the case conveys that she has violated her parole tenure, while undergoing drug screening that showed positive result. However, she was given services of the special programs i.e. Community Education Centers (CEC) and the Department of Corrections (DOC). As reviewed the DOC file, it was determined that she has been involved in grave criminal cases in her past 20 years. She lost one of her adult children in a car accident that greatly traumatized her. Being a female inmate as well as involved in grave criminal offences, she have emotional feeling for her child. During the clinical interview of Ms. Jones, she was endorsed on various domains. The domains are depressive symptoms, traumatic symptoms and the feeling of loneliness among others. The results of this particular clinical interview conveyed about the use of the gender-responsive treatment to change the mindset of the female inmates. This example depict that if a women is imprisoned, it creates a greater impact on inmate’s minor children. It has been further observed that after being released from the prison, the female inmates face numerous challenges pertaining to financial, social and housing among others (Fretz et al., 2007). 5. Conclude Your Paper with Why You Chose This Population and How You Believe They Should Be Treated While Incarcerated In recent years the most significant criminological research has been greatly recognized in case of women offenders. In-fact, it has been determined that women offenders have been considered as the economically disadvantaged group of population within the United States. This particular population has been taken under consideration for observation due to its growth rate. The others reasons can also be termed as not being accepted by the society at large. Many research studies have provided an analysis that the female offenders face numerous challenges pertaining to the society after getting released from the bars. Apart from this the study has been selected to have a better understanding of the correctional programs being implemented with a view to provide advanced facilities to the female inmates. Besides, the study assisted in deriving knowledge about the health care facilities and the educational facilities pertaining to the development of the female inmates. In order to develop the female inmates, it is necessary for the community to support them. On further note, it is necessary for the society to provide assistance to the female inmates, after the transitioning from jail to the community. They must be accepted on a positive note with a motive to prevent them from committing the similar offense. Apart from this the correctional programs and the institutional programs must be kept under check, if the dedicated facilities are being provided or not to the female inmates. On further note, the society must accelerate their care and response to the female offenders to help them to lead a normal life. As discussed the female offenders faces numerous challenges with regards to financial, psychological and social aspects. Federal law programs must look into the matter of providing these facilities to the female inmates for leading a better life, thereby stopping them from committing any other criminal offence. References Brennan, P. K., & Vandenberg, A. L. (2009). Depictions of female offenders in front-page newspaper stories: the importance of race/ethnicity. International Journal of Social Inquiry, 2(2), 141-175. Carson, E. A., & Golinelli, D. (2013). Prisoners in 2012 - advance counts. Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1-16. Covington, S. S. (2001). A woman’s journey home: challenges for female offenders and their children. Center for Gender & Justice. Fretz, R., Erickson, J., & Mims, A. (2007). Reentry programming and female offenders: the case for a gender-responsive approach. Retrieved from http://www.cecintl.com/pdf/research/Female%20Offender%20Research-The%20Case%20for%20Gender%20Responsive.pdf Mauer, M. (2013). The changing racial dynamics of women’s incarceration. The Sentencing Project, 1-21. NIC. (n.d.). Female offenders. Retrieved from http://www.bop.gov/inmates/custody_and_care/female_offenders.jsp Social Exclusion Task Force. (2009). Short study on women offenders. Social Exclusion Task Force, 1-42. The Washington Post. (2006). U.S. prison population sets record. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/30/AR2006113000912.html Read More