NCJ Number
143540
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: (1993) Pages: 173-184
Date Published
1993
Length
10 pages
Annotation
In June 1990 female prisoners comprised 5.4 percent of total inmates in Australia; 147 foreign-born women accounted for about 25 percent of this female prison population. Of the subpopulation of 147, 83 came from non-English speaking countries.
Abstract
Fifty-six of these women were interviewed to illuminate issues unique to them and to highlight some concerns for all incarcerated women. Data were obtained through prison census data, the inmate interviews, a short questionnaire completed by prison staff, and brief interviews conducted at each prison housing foreign-born women. The results showed that overseas- born female offenders tended to be older than Australian-born inmates, more likely to be married, and more likely to have been employed before their arrests. They were also more likely to be on remand. Many of the overseas-born women were serving longer sentences than their Australian counterparts although they had the lowest proportion of violent offenders among male or female inmates. The women's reaction to prison were examined among groups classified as deportees, adult immigrants, and child immigrants or long-term residents. The women interviewed described the culture shock they experienced in Australian prisons because of their exposure to violence and institutional practices. This experience was exacerbated by a lack of multicultural policies and restrictions related to nonresident visa status. Recommendations for improvement included separating women without addiction problems, breaking down the language barrier, and changing corrections policy to allow these women to return to their homelands or to do work release like Australian offenders. The report also includes 5 tables and 26 references.