Black and White Women Prisoners - Differences in Family Ties and Their Programmatic Implications

• NCJ Number: 93321
• Journal: Prison Journal Volume: 63 Issue: 2 Dated: (Autumn/Winter 1983) Pages: 116-123
• Author(s): L Bresler; D K Lewis
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 8 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This 1979 San Francisco study found that although black female jail inmates were more likely to come from 'broken' homes than were white female inmates, the black inmates were far more likely to have close contact with their children and other relatives, both while in jail and after their release.

Abstract

This research reports findings on the family contacts of black and white women sentenced to San Francisco County Jail #4 before and during incarceration as well as on their expectations of family help after release. This report is based on structured interviews with 61 women, 41 of whom were black and 20 white. The black women more often came from 'broken' homes, i.e., families maintained by the mother alone, while white women were more often raised in families maintained by both parents. Still, for the black women, family members were a major resource of support while in jail and after release. Family members provided emotional support and child care during incarceration and were expected to offer shelter and other assistance after release. White women, on the other hand, seemed at an emotional as well as geographical distance from their families. Their ties with their children were often tenuous or broken. They did not expect family help either while in jail or when they got out. They depended instead on a network of friends and lovers for assistance. Service providers should be aware that some women coming out of jail have strong family ties and resources which could be incorporated into postrelease planning. Where family support is lacking, this too should be taken into account in determining the extent of assistance and emotional support required after release. Black and white female inmates were also found to differ significantly in the areas of education, past and present socioeconomic conditions, the kinds of offenses for which they were convicted, and in the length of their sentences. Seven references are listed.