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Australia |
focus
points
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Insert forensic focus points here
Canada |
focus
points
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Insert forensic focus points here
International |
focus
points
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"In a scathing report released in March, 1999,
in Europe, Amnesty said sexual abuse and mistreatment
of female inmates is rampant in U.S. prisons. The
report, entitled "Not part of my sentence,"
claims that male guards routinely violate female inmates'
human rights in American jails, in ways ranging from
rape to watching women while they are naked and groping
them during body searches" (Amnesty International,
1999).
"The
number of women in U.S. prisons tripled between 1985
and 1997, mostly due to sentences imposed as part
of the war on drugs. About 140,000 women are now imprisoned
in America, as many as are in jail in all Western
European countries combined" (Amnesty International,1999)
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United Kingdom |
focus
points
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"Historically, mental health services, including
those that are secure, have failed to meet the needs
of many women entrusted in their care. Issues related
to gender are important to consider, as indicated
by the personal accounts of many service users (Ifill,
1998; Women in Secure Hospitals [WISH], 2001), central
government publications (National Health Service [NHS]
Executive, 1999a, 2000), and research findings (Beardsmore
et al., 1998; Parry-Crooke, 2000; Stafford, 1999).
However, recently there have been some positive developments
in mental health services for women, including those
that are secure" (NHS Executive, 2000; Storey
& Murdock, 2001; WISH, n.d.; cited in Byrt, Lomas,
Gardinar, & Lewis, 2001).
"Arnold
Lodge is one of approximately 40 medium secure mental
health units in England. Most are part of and managed
by the National Health Service, with some run by private
health service companies. To ensure safety (related
to the reasons for admission outlined below) patients'
freedom of movement, within and outside these units,
is limited, with some locked doors and usually a fairly
high perimeter fence around the building. Most medium
secure units, including Arnold Lodge, have some wards
with mixed-gender occupancy. Women are a minority
in almost all medium secure units in England, with
the exception of a few units specifically for women"
(Byrt, Lomas, Gardinar, & Lewis, 2001).
"The
study found that less than one quarter of female jail
detainees who had a severe mental disorder and needed
services received them while they were in jail. The
detainees diagnosis determined whether they received
services. Co-occurring drug use or dependency affected
the probability of receiving services in different
ways, depending on the severity of the disorder"
(Teplin, Abram & McClelland, 1997, p. 607).
"Of the women who needed services, 23.5% received
them while they were in jail. Type of disorder, treatment
history and socio-demographic variables all affected
the odds of a mentally ill woman receiving services"
(Teplin, Abram & McClelland, 1997, p. 604).
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United States |
focus
points
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"As an instructor for a myriad of both law enforcement
and corrections academy classes for the past nine
years, the old adage, "An inmate, is an inmate,
is an inmate" has been a staple of the recruit
curriculum. With the development of a new effective,
task-oriented curriculum titled "Working With
the Female Offender," staff within the Florida
Department of Corrections are learning to put this
myth to rest (DeBell, 2001, p. 56).
"Female offenders are, at the very least, extremely
challenging to manage. It is crucial that correctional
staff develop and foster a basic understanding of
the differences between men and women. A conscious
effort to remain professional at all times when dealing
with female offenders will ensure staff success. Employees
will be taught to think "outside the box,"
as it relates to female offenders, addressing the
issues they bring with them upon incarceration and
concentrating on their success in their new environment"
(DeBell, 2001, p. 56).
"Abuse of alcohol and drugs have been found to
be a major contributor to women's criminality"
(Anglin & Hser, 1987; cited in Singer, Bussey,
Song, & Lunghofer, 1995, p. 103).
"Victimization
is another key factor that is prevalent in the study
of incarcerated women" (Singer, Bussey, Song,
& Lunghofer, 1995, p. 103).
"Women
require scheduled health care interventions such as
regular pap smears mammography, and prenatal care"
(Thorburn, 1995, p. 563).
"The pregnancies often need intensive management
because of risks such as drug use during the early
stages" (Smith, 1992; cited in Thorburn, 1995,
p. 563).
|
Focus Points
Reference
| Amnesty
International. (1999, March). Retrieved September |
2000,
from AI Website:
http://www.courttv.com/national/1999/0304/amnesty_ctv.htm
|
| Byrt, R.,
Lomas, C., Gardinar, G., & Lewis, D. (2001). Working
|
with
women in secure environments. Journal of Psychosocial
Nursing & Mental Health Services, 39(9),
42-50. Retrieved July 22, 2002 from Proquest database.
|
| DeBell,
J. (2001). The female offender: Different...not difficult.
|
Corrections
Today, 63(1), 56-60.Retrieved July 22, 2002
from Proquest database.
|
| Singer,
M.I., Bussey, J., Song, L. Lunghofer, L. (1995). The
|
psychosocial
issues of women serving time in jail. Social Work:
Journal of the National Association of Social
Workers, 40(1), 103-13.
|
| Teplin,
L. A., Abram, K. M. & McClelland, G. M. (1997).
Mentally |
disordered
women in jail: Who receives services? American Journal
of Public Health, 87(4), 604-609.
|
| Thorburn,
(1995) |
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of Page
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Topic
D - Forensic Corrections > Section D.5.0.
Forensic Populations> Unit.D.5.4. Female Offender
