NCJ Number
183788
Date Published
May 2000
Length
68 pages
Annotation
This report explains how the Illinois Department of Corrections intends to meet the housing, education/training, correctional industries, and programming needs of the escalating adult female offender population.
Abstract
Women now comprise 6.2 percent of the total adult population under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Corrections. For many of these women the incarceration period is brief and generally for a nonviolent or drug-related offense. A majority of the women are mothers. Prior to incarceration, they were the primary caregivers to their families; upon release, most women and their children will be reunited. Without adequate services and support, many are doomed to repeat the cycle. Corrections administrators recognize the importance of building comprehensive long-range plans for its female population. Planning recommendations that are fiscally responsible, that impact the offender's chance for successful re-entry into the community, and that promote responsible citizenship must be developed. Guided by Illinois statute, corrections planning for female offenders focuses on five key areas. One area is the administration of programs, services, and assignments for female inmates that are gender-responsive. A second area is housing options within the prison and the community settings that are safe, clean, and accessible. The third key area involves education/training opportunities that provide academic, vocational, and life-skills programs that meet the individualized needs of the women. Correctional industries is the fourth area; this involves participation in jobs that provide employment opportunities and build a work ethic for incarcerated women. The final planning area involves programming that is gender-specific, not only in content but in delivery techniques. 22 tables, 5 figures, and a 22-item bibliography