NCJ Number
13721
Date Published
1974
Length
34 pages
Annotation
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF ADULT AND JUVENILE FEMALE JAIL POPULATIONS WITH DISCUSSION OF STATE STANDARDS FOR HANDLING FEMALE OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THIS PROFILE OFFERS OBSERVATIONS FROM INDIVIDUAL JAIL STUDIES ON THE SPECIAL SITUATION OF FEMALE DEFENDANTS AND INDICATES THE EXTENT TO WHICH EXISTING STATE JAIL STANDARDS MAKE REFERENCE TO OR SPECIAL PROVISION FOR FEMALE RESIDENTS. COMMENTS ARE MADE ON GIRLS IN JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES WITH STATISTICS INDICATING THAT JUVENILE FEMALES CONSTITUTE A SUBSTANTIAL MINORITY IN JUVENILE DETENTION POPULATIONS AND A DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGE GROUP IN LIGHT OF NATIONAL JUVENILE COURT AND NATIONAL ARREST STATISTICS. ATTENTION IS DEVOTED TO THE EXPANDING PARTICIPATION OF FEMALES IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES. STATISTICS OF JAIL AND DETENTION FACILITIES FOR WOMEN INDICATE THAT FEMALES IN ADULT DETENTION SHARE IN THE GENERAL INADEQUACIES OF JAIL FACILITIES AND SERVICES AND IN MANY CASES SUFFER UNDER SPECIAL DISADVANTAGES AND PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE INABILITY OF JAILS TO PROVIDE NORMAL SERVICES TO THE SMALL INMATE GROUP, TO RESPOND TO NEEDS OF MOTHERS TO CARE FOR AND MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH CHILDREN AND TO ADDRESS DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT OF WOMEN FOR VICTIMLESS CRIMES SUCH AS PROSTITUTION. SEVERAL FINDINGS FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA SURVEY OF WOMEN IN LOCAL JAILS ARE PRESENTED TO GIVE A REPRESENTATIVE PERSPECTIVE OF DILEMMAS AND CONDITIONS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE SITUATION OF WOMEN IN LOCAL CONFINEMENT OR DETENTION. ALSO, EXCERPTS FROM SOME STATE JAIL STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO WOMEN ARE DISCUSSED. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN STATISTICS FROM THE WOMEN'S PRISON ASSOCIATION STUDY AND THE FBI UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS. (SNI ABSTRACT)