NCJ Number
46204
Journal
MANPOWER Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1977) Pages: 13-19
Date Published
1975
Length
7 pages
Annotation
WOMEN OFFENDERS ARE FACED WITH INEQUITABLE VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT LESSEN THEIR CHANCES FOR POST IMPRISONMENT EMPLOYMENT AND INCREASE CHANCES OF RECIDIVISM. NONTRADITIONAL JOB TRAINING MAY BE THE ANSWER.
Abstract
BECAUSE OF THEIR RELATIVELY MINOR ROLE IN THE CORRECTIONS OVERVIEW -- OF THE 6.5 MILLION INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED IN 1970, ONLY 1 IN 7 WAS A WOMEN -- WOMEN OFFENDERS COMPLICATE THE ALWAYS DIFFICULT PROBLEM OF PROVIDING VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR PRISONERS. OF OFFENDERS WHO HAVE BEEN TRIED AND SENTENCED, ONLY 1 IN 22 IS A WOMAN, AND BECAUSE OF THE 'CHIVALRY FACTOR' IN SENTENCING AND THE FACT THAT WOMEN TEND TO COMMIT LESS VIOLENT CRIMES, ONLY 1 IN 35 IN THE PRISON POPULATION ON A GIVEN DAY IS A WOMAN. THIS LACK OF SUBSTANTIAL INMATE POPULATION MAKES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A FULL RANGE OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS A RARE OCCURRENCE. THE TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT HAVE ORDINARILY BEEN OPEN TO WOMEN REFLECT A TRADITIONAL ATTITUDE TOWARD BOTH THEIR ROLE IN SOCIETY AND IN THE WORK FORCE AND THE PROPER SORT OF WORK FOR EX-CONVICTS. WHAT TYPICALLY PASSES FOR A TRAINING PROGRAM IS OFTEN LITTLE MORE THAN A MIXTURE OF REMEDIAL EDUCATION WITH INSTRUCTION IN SUCH AREAS AS FOOD PREPARATION, GARMENT MAKING, AND PRACTICAL NURSING. EX-OFFENDERS RARELY SECURE EMPLOYMENT IN THESE AREAS AFTER RELEASE AT A SALARY ABOVE THE MINIMUM WAGE. PROGRAMS SUCH AS THOSE AT THE MARYLAND CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AT JESSUP MAY BE THE KEY TO OVERCOMING THIS DILEMMA. THE JESSUP FACILITY PRESENTS A MIX OF THE OLD AND THE NEW IN WOMEN'S PRISONS. INMATES HAVE A CHOICE OF TRADITIONAL AND NONTRADITIONAL WAYS OF SPENDING THEIR SENTENCE TIME: THEY CAN WORK FOR THE INSTITUTION ITSELF, E.G., BY COOKING, CLEANING, OR DOING THE LAUNDRY; WORK IN THE SEWING FACTORY; RECEIVE ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING; OR WORK IN THE INSTITUTION'S WELDING AND MACHINE SHOPS. THROUGH A PROGRAM BACKED BY A MAJOR LABOR UNION, WOMEN OFFENDERS ARE GIVEN A CHANCE TO TRAIN AS WELDERS AND POWER TOOL OPERATORS SO THAT AS EX-OFFENDERS THEY MAY BE ABLE TO SECURE WELL-PAYING JOBS IN MARYLAND'S SHIPYARDS AND ON THE SUBWAY CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AT THE TIME OF WRITING. THROUGH A COALITION OF UNION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS, THIS NONTRADITIONAL JOB TRAINING PROGRAM HAS SUCCEEDED IN RETURNING FEMALE OFFENDERS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AS HIGHLY MOTIVATED, TAX-PAYING WAGE EARNERS, AND NOT AS ADDITIONS TO THE WELFARE ROLLS. (KBL)