The Issue of Women Being Allowed to Work in a Mens Penitentiary - Assignment Example

There were a number of different accusations made by the female inmates indicating that the male officers were accused of sexual assault, frequent groping, rape, as well as requiring inmates to display their breasts (Under the pretext of enforcing the wearing of bras on the premises). However, there seem to be two strategies to manage these situations which can be broken down into proactive and retroactive strategies. In regards to proactive strategies, one could assume that more camera usage would be a suitable solution insofar if a female inmate makes an accusation of a male officer there would be video evidence of the encounter.

Building on this point it may also be the case that females officers would be delegated the task of ‘patting down’ inmates and engaging in the more sensitive issues facing female inmates, whilst allowing male correctional officers to handle the more broad requirement of a correctional officer. In regards to a retroactive approach to this issue, one could assume that there is a strategy of prosecution and subsequent discipline to the misconduct of male officers. It should be noted that apparently one in ten of the accusers have ultimately been convicted of perjury after the fact so one could assume that there is a risk some of the accusations are not based in reality.

However, for those people who have valid accusations with substantial evidence, I believe that the subsequent discipline would be effective. If, for example, a male corrections officer is convicted of rape one would assume that they would lose their job and most likely end up in prison themselves.The issue of women being allowed to work in a men’s penitentiary and males not being allowed to work in a female penitentiary is tricky. As was indicated in the case of Michigan it was demonstrated that at the state level that men are allowed to work in a female prison.

As I have always been a supporter of equal opportunities I believe that it is entirely fair that female officers should be allowed to work in a male-dominated institution, however when that situation is not reciprocated it does hint at sexism. Furthermore, I am certain that there would be some exceptional male officers that work in a female penitentiary and to state that only women can work within this institution is simply not fair. However, it is clear from the case in Michigan that male officers have been accused of frequent sexual misconduct so some sort of alternative solution should be found.