Women in Prison - A Profile

• NCJ Number: 93316
• Journal: Prison Journal Volume: 63 Issue: 2 Dated: (Autumn/Winter 1983) Pages: 27-46
• Author(s): A Goetting; R M Howsen
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 20 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented to the 1983 annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, March 22-26, 1983, San Antonio, Texas.

Annotation

This 1979 nationwide self-report survey of 11,397 inmates in State prisons found that female and male prisoners differ from one another in the areas of personal characteristics, current offense and sentence, probation and incarceration history, conformity to prison rules, prison recreation and work activities, and interaction with family members and friends outside of prison.

Abstract

Of the total sample of 11,397 inmates surveyed, 2,255 were women. When comparisons were made between female and male prisoners on personal characteristics, significant differences were found for all variables except number of siblings. The women were somewhat older and more commonly black, separated, divorced, and widowed. Women reported having more children, having higher educational achievement, and a higher proportion of unemployment immediately before this incarceration. Regarding drug use, female inmates were more likely to have used heroin, amphetamines, methadone, and barbituates than men. The proportion of women who reported having at least one probation experience was significantly smaller than that proportion reported by men. Nearly 41 percent of the women inmates have been found guilty of breaking prison rules during the current incarceration, which is a significantly lower proportion than the 47.74 percent of men who broke prison rules. Regarding prison recreation and work activities, women spent significantly fewer hours in an average week walking outdoors, exercising, playing sports, etc., than did the men. The women reported greater frequency in watching television but less frequency in reading, using the prison store, sports participation, and movie attendance. Women inmates reported significantly more outside communication with family members, friends, and other by means of visits, telephone calls, and mail than did their male counterparts. The findings imply that women may require different kinds of policies and programs tailored to their particular needs and interests. Tabular data and 24 references are provided.