The literature on differences in the incarceration experiences of women and men underscores the relevance of both background (pre-prison) and confinement factors for shaping inmates' experiences during incarceration, but with a heavier emphasis on linkages between background factors and problems women face during confinement. In the current study, sex-specific models of physical assaults and property thefts were estimated for random samples of inmates from 46 prisons in Ohio and Kentucky. Background factors were more important than confinement factors for influencing assaults on women; whereas, both sets of factors were relevant for men. Both background and confinement factors were important for predicting theft victimizations for both groups although the magnitude of several effects varied by an inmate's sex. Findings suggest that effective crime prevention strategies in prison may vary across facilities for women and for men. (Publisher abstract modified)
Assessing the Need for Gender-Specific Explanations of Prisoner Victimization
NCJ Number
248801
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 33 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2016 Pages: 209-238
Date Published
April 2014
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study applied concepts from the relevant literature to an understanding of sex differences in factors that influence victimization risk during incarceration.
Abstract
Date Published: April 1, 2014