NCJ Number
173903
Date Published
1994
Length
100 pages
Annotation
California's Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 33 Commission on Female Inmate and Parolee Issues determined female inmates differed significantly from male inmates in terms of their needs while incarcerated and upon release to the community on parole.
Abstract
Female inmates and parolees generally had a lower rate of commitment to prison for violent offenses and exhibited significantly less violent behavior in prison than male inmates. Upon release to parole, over 95 percent of all females were returned to communities from which they were sentenced. Procedures used by local law enforcement and social service agencies to respond to the needs of children of arrested parents varied by jurisdiction, and children of incarcerated parents appeared to be at greater risk of future involvement with the criminal justice system than their peers. Incarcerated women often lost contact with their children when they entered the criminal justice system. Substance abuse was pervasive in most offenses committed by women, access to community-based programs and services was a critical component of successful correctional substance abuse treatment, and many substance-abusing women who were pregnant or had very young children entered the criminal justice system. Determinate sentencing laws and rules in California provided limited judicial flexibility in sentencing determinations for women because mitigation criteria did not include circumstances typical of female defendants. Further, the prison classification system did not meet the needs of female inmates. Gender-specific programs provided opportunities for female inmates and parolees to address such issues as effective parenting, anger management, substance abuse, health care, AIDS/HIV, recovery from abuse, and self-image. These issues affected successful reintegration into society. Female inmates demonstrated a higher level of interest in academic and vocational programs than male inmates, and success during the period of transition from prison to parole was largely determined by the ability of parolees to effectively manage critical life issues. Specific recommendations to meet the unique needs of female inmates in California are offered. Appendixes contain statistical data on female inmates and parolees and the text of SCR 33. 62 footnotes, 4 tables, and 12 figures