NCJ Number
213417
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 86 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2006 Pages: 140-157
Date Published
March 2006
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Using official prison data for the period 1993 through August 2005, this study examined the relationship between ethnicity and nationality and the imprisonment of women in England and Wales.
Abstract
The study found that Black, foreign-born women (most from Jamaica) were overrepresented in the prisons in England and Wales, largely due to their disproportionate imprisonment for low-level drug offenses. Punitive sentencing policies have been applied to low-level drug couriers. Based on these findings, the author recommends that the governments of England and Wales institute some policy reforms relating to drug couriers. One recommendation is that judges be trained to impose appropriate sentences for foreign-born ethnic women who are not helped by harsh punishments. Other recommendations are the use of sentencing panels to determine whether foreign-born drug offenders should be given long sentences; the establishment of a repatriation agreement with countries whose citizens commit drug offenses in England and Wales; the provision of appropriate services for imprisoned foreign-born nationals; and special training for prison staff who manage these inmates. The data used were based on rates of imprisonment in the two countries. Based on the average population and the relevant overall population in a country, rates of imprisonment indicate how many people of every 100,000 in a total population are sentenced to prison. This method allows for more accurate comparisons across populations. 5 figures, 3 notes, and 36 references