NCJ Number
219854
Journal
Corrections Today Magazine Volume: 69 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2007 Pages: 72-74
Date Published
August 2007
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes differences between working in a women’s correctional facility versus a facility for male offenders and describes how the Davidson County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office has handled the management of the Correction Development Center-Female (CDF).
Abstract
In March 2005, the CDF opened its doors to 340 female inmates who had previously been under the supervision of a contracted institution. The sheriff’s office knew it had its work cut out for it because common knowledge among correctional staff was that managing female inmates was a much more difficult job than handling male inmates. Indeed, issues pertaining to female inmates began popping up at jail intake where hair extensions and lice posed unique problems for correctional staff. A proactive stance was adopted to control both problems that had previously been overlooked because they were not problems common to the male inmate population. Housing considerations also became a problem when the number of pregnant or otherwise incapacitated women needing bottom-level, bottom-bunk housing exceeded the number of bottom-level, bottom-bunk space. Policies regarding the use of force/restraints for possibly pregnant inmates also had to be considered. However, a far more creative solution was required for the relationship issues that cropped up among female inmates, particularly among those incarcerated for long periods of time. Female inmates would use manipulation to be transferred to the housing units of their love interests and, as a result, the sheriff’s office had to take a tough line on requests for housing or job transfers to cut back on the number of manipulations. The author also discusses the different learning styles of men and women, which needed to be considered when planning educational programming for the female inmates. In short, the best correctional officer for a women’s facility is part psychologist, social worker, advocate, teacher, role model, officer, and case manager.