NCJ Number
44476
Journal
Rassegna di Studi Penitenziari Volume: 27 Issue: 1 Dated: (JUNUARY/ FEBRUARY 1977) Pages: 37-47
Date Published
1977
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN ITALY IS EXAMINED; PROBLEMS FACED BY WOMEN WISHING TO ENTER THIS FIELD ARE NOTED.
Abstract
STATISTICS FOR 1974 SHOW THAT THE PERCENTAGES OF WOMEN EMPLOYED IN PENITENTIARY ADMINISTRATION FOR SPECIFIC JOB CATEGORIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 12.94 PERCENT IN TOP DIRECTORSHIP POSITIONS; 35.18 PERCENT IN POSITIONS REQUIRING JUDGMENT AND DECISIONMAKING CAPABILITIES; AND 9.93 PERCENT IN EXECUTIVE POSITIONS. THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY RISE SINCE 1972 IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN APPLYING FOR PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS IN PENITENTIARY ADMINISTRATION, BUT WOMEN HAVE NOT BEEN APPOINTED TO HIGHER POSTS AT A CORRESPONDING RATE. SOME OF THE OBSTACLES ENCOUNTERED BY WOMEN SEEKING SUCH EMPLOYMENT ARE THE GENERATION PROBLEM, FACED BY ALL YOUNGER APPLICANTS WHO MEET WITH RESISTANCE FROM THE OLDER DIRECTING CLASS; THE PROBLEM OF SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION; AND THE DIFFICULTIES PRESENTED BY THE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL NATURE OF THE PENITENTIARY SETTING, I.E., THE EXCLUSIVE, RIGIDLY ORGANIZED, AND DEPERSONALIZED ATMOSPHERE WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO CREATING A NEGATIVE IDENTITY WITHIN THE INMATE. THE ENTRANCE OF WOMEN INTO THE CLOSED PENITENTIARY WORLD UPSETS THE STRICT SUBDIVISION OF ROLES WHICH HAVE SHAPED MUCH OF THE ENVIRONMENT'S CHARACTER. THE UPHEAVAL IN PENITENTIARY ORGANIZATION WHICH HAS ACCOMPANIED GREATER EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND OFFENDER REHABILITATION IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE RADICAL CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH WOMEN ENTERING PENITENTIARY ADMINISTRATION. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. --IN ITALIAN.