NCJ Number
98278
Editor(s)
S Hatty
Date Published
1984
Length
217 pages
Annotation
The problems of women in the prison system, whether as inmates or employees, are addressed in the Proceedings of the Australian Institute of Criminology seminar.
Abstract
Opening remarks focus on the issue of women in the prison system both as police officers, guards, and inmates as they reflect the policies of the Australian penal reform system. In addition, a statement on the issues as reflected by views from United States' criminologists is also presented. Statistical accounts of women in correctional institutions in Australia are presented which indicate that of the 9,773 individuals in the prison system only 359, or 3.7 percent, were female. These statistics are related to demographic variables. A review of the trends of women's imprisonment policies focuses on sentencing, imprisonment, rehabilitation, and parole. Tabular data on the distribution of female offenders according to types of crime are included. Research papers focus on the conflicting views of the role of women working in the penal system, the changing character of female offenders in the United States, and the sociological and psychological perspectives of maternal-infant incarceration. Policy statements concerning the treatment of infants and Aboriginal Women in Australian prisons are presented. Special attention is given to women in the prison system in South Australia. The special functions of female correctional officers in the New South Wales male prisons are reviewed. The Corporate Planning Program of the New South Wales correctional system is presented, with special attention to female prisoners facilities. Police officers responsibilities for management of women in custody are examined, with attention to prisoner identification, prisoner escort, and prisoner incarceration. Further studies in such areas as mother-infant incarceration and the attitudes towards female correctional officers are recommended. For individual papers, see NCJ 98279-84.