Women and Imprisonment

HAND BOOK FOR PRISON MANAGERS AND POLICY MAKERS

CRIMINAL JUSTICE HANDBOOK SERIES

UNITED NATIONS New York, 2008

INTRODUCTION
Designed to be used by all actors involed in the field of criminal justice and prison reform, including
Policy makers Legislators Prison managers Prison staff Member of Non Governmental Organizations

MAIN FOCUS OF HANDBOOK

AIM OF THE HANDBOOK

Aims to assist the responsible bodies to implement resolutions and recommendations of UN to address
Gender specific need of women prisoners
To increase awareness about the profile of female

offenders Suggest ways to reduce the un-necessary imprisonment of women.

Why a handbook
Increased no of female prisoners

Contd.
Number of female prisnors is increasing at a

faster rate than that of male prisnors.

COUNTRIES

WOMEN IN PRISON

MEN IN PRISON

England

More than doubled than the past decade.

209% increase

Increased by half

Australia

75% increase

REASONS FOR INCREASE NO OF WOMEN IMPRISONMENT

Toughening criminal justice policies. Tough legislation for drug related offences. Legislation derivation from interpretation of religious

laws.
Inability to afford bail or the services of lawer. Poverty and inability to pay fines. Discriminatory legislation and practices.

SPECIAL NEEDS OF FEMALE PRISONERS

Challenges in accessing justice on an equal basis

with men
A high level of mental healthcare needs Gender specific heathcare needs Safety in prison Accomodation and family contact Post-release reintegration

MANAGEMENT OF WOMENS PRISONS

Gender sensitive prison management:
United Nations Convention on Elimination of All forms of

Discrimination against Women United Nations Standard Minimum Rule for the Treatment of Prisoners
o Eliminating discrimination o Different needs and management styles
The recognition of different needs of women To communicate openly with prisoners Skills such as active listening, patience in explaining rules Awareness of emotional dynamics

MANAGEMENT OF WOMENS PRISONS

Staff
Assessment and classification Safety and security
o Should be held in accommodation which is physically

separate from the male prisoners o Appointment of female staff to avoid sexual abuse o Instruments of restraints should not be used in particular conditions.

MANAGEMENT OF WOMENS PRISONS

Prisoner activities and programs
o Work and vocational training o Education o Special programs o Physical education and sports

MANAGEMENT OF WOMENS PRISONS

Healthcare
o Healthy prison environment o Medical screening on entry o Gender-specific healthcare o Mental health and care o HIV prevention, treatment, care and support o Treatment for substance abuse

o Suicide and self-harm prevention

MANAGEMENT OF WOMENS PRISONS

Access to legal assistance

Contact with the outside world

o Maintaining family links o Contacts with the community

Pregnant women and women with children in

prison Special categories

o Pre-trial detainees

o Foreign national women

REDUCING THE FEMALE PRISON POPULATION

Offences for which women are imprisoned:
Non violent offences

Drug related offences

Property crimes Crimes against morality

Types of crime women (vs. men) are serving time for

50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%

49%

34% 28% 26% 20% 21%

drug- related violent property public order

11%

10%

female

male

REDUCING THE FEMALE PRISON POPULATION

Legal assistance on arrest
Diversion from prosecution Sentencing
o Alternatives to prison for non violent offences o Drug related offences

Discriminatory legislation and trial procedure Foreign national women

Limitation Of Handbook
Issues related to girls in confict with law

Issues related to other groups

(women prisoner from ethnic and racial minority groups, older women prisoners, women under sentence of death)
Guidelines to address the challenge of growing

rate of womens imprisonment. Impact of womens imprisonment on their children.

RECOMMENDATION

Further research and the developemnt of policies

and strategies to reduce the prison population.

Should be used in conjunction with general prison

management manuals and relevant international instruments.