In fact, female offenders report a significantly greater incidence of mental health problems and higher rates of drug use than do males.įemale offenders are more likely than men to have chronic medical problems and they present specific health issues, ranging from eating disorders to pregnancy. Such trauma histories are often linked to the substance abuse, chronic mental health conditions, and relationship difficulties that underlie criminal pathways for women. Women in correctional institutions are far more likely to have been victims of neglect, sexual abuse, and violence. The risk factors associated with criminal offending are different for females. These factors alone suggest that community-based sanctions are an appropriate first choice for many female offenders. Female offenders are also less likely to have a prior offense history and they generally recidivate less often than their male counterparts. For one, women’s offenses are generally less serious than men’s – primarily drug and property crimes, as opposed to violent offenses against the person. Female Offenders are Different than Malesįemale offenders are distinguished from their male counterparts in ways that influence their involvement in the criminal justice system and that should impact our decisions about their incarceration. Still, there is still work to be done with regard to one segment of the target population: Female Offenders. Through our extensive involvement in the planning and design of correctional facilities, we’ve witnessed how these advancements have improved conditions for many inmates in the US and abroad. The introduction of meaningful programming has reduced both prisoner idleness and recidivism. Concepts like direct supervision management have demonstrated the importance of interpersonal communication between officer and inmate, providing a safer and calmer housing unit environment. Advances in correctional facility design have provided a more normative setting (vs a harsh, institutional environment) by introducing daylight, soothing colors, and replacing cell bars with doors. In this expert guest blog, Laura Maiello, Senior Vice President of Justice Planning for CGL Companies (USA) and Stephen Carter, founder, Executive Vice President and Co-Director of planning and design at CGL Companies, outline these and other considerations that those responsible for the design and management of women’s facilities should take into account.Īnyone who has lived in, worked for, or studied prisons knows the toll that correctional institutions take on their inhabitants. Women tend to be relationship driven and prefer to interact in small groups, for example, so how can the lay-out of accommodation and communal areas help to foster positive relationships with staff and other prisoners? How can bathrooms be designed so that they maximise women’s privacy and dignity but do not compromise security? How can facilities for mothers and children be designed to be as close as possible to a non-prison environment? However, the growing understanding that women who offend are different from men − from their typical backgrounds and the nature of their offences, to their experience of abuse and their care-taking responsibilities is also leading architects and planners to consider how prison facilities might also be designed in a gender-sensitive manner. Historically prison buildings have largely been designed for the majority male prisoner population.
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