NCJ Number
89382
Date Published
1982
Length
262 pages
Annotation
This study of the differences in the treatment of inmates in male and female California prisons found that women have fewer advantages, probably due to sex role stereotypes underlying policies formulated years ago.
Abstract
The study focused on differences in policies and procedures affecting the daily lives of inmates in the California Institution for Women and the California Institution for Men. The researcher observed activities at both prisons, obtained information on the prisons available to the public, and reviewed manual policies and procedures. The study found that minimum security female inmates are treated similarly to medium security males, while women in maximum security are treated less harshly than maximum-security males. The academic education for women appears to be geared primarily toward clerical and secretarial jobs, while the education for the men is more comprehensive and includes outside learning experiences not available to women. Vocational training opportunities are also less for women. Women are further from their homes, making it more difficult for them to maintain contact with family and friends. Visitation restrictions are greater for women, and the women's prison makes no provision for the inmates to share activities with their children. Although all new male inmates are given a battery of psychological tests and psychological interviews, only selected women are given such an assessment. Most of the inequities between the prisons result from inhouse policies and procedures. Recommendations are offered for further study. Forty bibliographic entries are provided. (Author summary modified)