NCJ Number
97744
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 29 Issue: 1 Dated: (1985) Pages: 35-42
Date Published
1985
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A national survey of State-run prisons for women indicates an increasing number of nontraditional programs offered in prisons along with a surprisingly small role played by private agencies as service providers.
Abstract
Surveys were sent to all 41 State-run facilities for women listed in the 1984 American Correctional Association Directory. Community-based programs and cocorrectional facilities were excluded. Thirty-six facilities responded; the warden or superintendent usually completed the form. The facilities had daily populations from 20 to 1,300 inmates and from 20 to 450 employees. Most institutions offered job-related programs reinforcing the traditional roles of wife and mother. However, from 8 to 21 institutions offered such nontraditional programs as auto repair, carpentry, computer studies, and plumbing. Most of the programs also offered elementary and high school education. Most offered programs to deal with personal problems. These included alcohol and drug programs, mental health care, health education, and training in personal etiquette and grooming. Most also offered programs in parenting skills and parenting rights, and 25 allowed weekend-long visits by children. Larger facilities offered more programs. Although most respondents supported the use of private agencies in prisons for women, only a small proportion of programs were provided by private agencies. Cost, bureaucratic problems, or reluctance of private agencies could be barriers to such programming. The interest of prison administrators in private involvement suggests the need to examine the private agencies themselves to determine why their full potential in programming for women has not been realized. Tables and 11 references are listed.