NCJ Number
147651
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 63 Issue: 2 Dated: (Autumn-Winter 1983) Pages: 80-87
Date Published
1983
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the findings of research on the characteristics of incarcerated black female offenders compared to those of white female inmates.
Abstract
The literature on black female offenders has few studies on the black female delinquent. Findings tend to be limited to four areas: self-report studies, black female gangs, type of offenses committed by black juvenile girls, and the experiences of black female youth in correctional institutions. Carter notes that incarcerated black juvenile females hold higher social status in correctional facilities, are more likely to engage in pseudo-masculine roles, and are more influential within correctional environments. Similar to the research on black delinquent girls, research on black female adult offenders also must be found in the literature on women and crime in general. Such research focuses on the overrepresentation of minority women in the various stages of the criminal justice process, types of offenses black women commit, and the incarcerated black female. Various studies have found that black females are overrepresented in all stages of the criminal justice process. There is no substantial evidence, however, that black females are any more prone to crime than other females. Black females tend to be treated more severely within the criminal justice system than nonblack females, especially white females. Simmons notes that inmate leaders within a prison are more likely to be black, a fact that seems true for black women as well. Wyrick and Owens conclude that incarcerated black women are, as a group, younger than white female inmates. Black women also tend to be less educated that white female inmates. The author offers recommendations for additional research on this topic. 29 references