Post by ScotKaren on Jun 21, 2006 7:20:10 GMT -5
www.justiceworks.org/factsheets/MIP%20Fact%20Sheet%202001.htm
Mothers in Prison
National Facts:
Ð There are now150,000 women incarcerated in U.S. prisons and jails. (Sokoloff, Violent Female Offenders in NYS: Myths and Facts, Crime and Justice in NY, A. Karmon, 2000-2001)
Ð The number of women in prisons and jails is increasing at a faster rate than that of men. Nationally, there are now nearly seven times as many women in prison as in 1980. (U.S. Department of Justice: Office of Justice Programs)
Ð By the end of 1996, 859,400 women were under correctional supervision (either in prison, jail, on probation or parole). (U.S. Department of Justice: Office of Justice Programs)
Ð 75% of women in prison are mothers. Two-thirds of these women have children under the age of 18. (U.S. Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Statistics) 72% of women prisoners with children under 18 lived with those children before entering prison (Child Welfare League of America)
Ð 25% of adult women in prison have either given birth at some point during the year prior to their incarceration or are pregnant at the time of their arrest. A survey of state prison wardens found that “less than 50% [of their facilities] had written policies specifically relating to medical care for pregnant women [and] only 48% offered prenatal services. Of the facilities in this second category, 21% offered prenatal counseling, 15% offered counseling to help mothers find suitable placements for their infants after birth and 15% had policies for lighter or no work during pregnancy.” (U.S. Department of Justice: Office of Justice Programs)
Ð Most women who use illegal drugs while pregnant are white, yet in several studies, the vast majority of the women either reported or arrested for drug use are women of color. (The Guttmacher Report, 1998)
Ð 78% of women in prison report that they have been physically or sexually abused. 50% of these women were abused by someone they knew, in contrast to 3% of men. 56% reported that the abuse included rape. (U.S. Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Statistics)
Ð Women who were abused or neglected as children face a 77% higher chance of arrest than a comparison group of women who did not experience abuse or neglect. (U.S. Department of Justice: Office of Justice Programs)
Ð Of those prisoners who commit violent acts, women are two times more likely than men to know the other person involved. (U.S. Department of Justice: National Institute of Justice) In fact, nearly two-thirds of the women serving a sentence for a violent crime knew the other person involved in the crime. (U.S. Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Statistics) The vast majority of these women were defending themselves or their children from abuse. The average prison time for a woman who kills her spouse/partner is twice that of a man who kills his spouse/partner. (Turning the Tide, 1998)
Ð Black women are incarcerated at a rate eight times that of white women. (The Sentencing Project)
Ð 5.1% of black and Hispanic females are likely to go to prison or jail at least one time during their lifetime, as compared to .5% of white females. (The Sentencing Project)
Ð 22.3% of women in prison held no job prior to incarceration. Of those who had jobs, two-thirds reported never receiving more than $6.50 per hour. (Wellisch, Anglin and Prendergast, Journal of Drug Issues, 1993)
Mothers in Prison
National Facts:
Ð There are now150,000 women incarcerated in U.S. prisons and jails. (Sokoloff, Violent Female Offenders in NYS: Myths and Facts, Crime and Justice in NY, A. Karmon, 2000-2001)
Ð The number of women in prisons and jails is increasing at a faster rate than that of men. Nationally, there are now nearly seven times as many women in prison as in 1980. (U.S. Department of Justice: Office of Justice Programs)
Ð By the end of 1996, 859,400 women were under correctional supervision (either in prison, jail, on probation or parole). (U.S. Department of Justice: Office of Justice Programs)
Ð 75% of women in prison are mothers. Two-thirds of these women have children under the age of 18. (U.S. Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Statistics) 72% of women prisoners with children under 18 lived with those children before entering prison (Child Welfare League of America)
Ð 25% of adult women in prison have either given birth at some point during the year prior to their incarceration or are pregnant at the time of their arrest. A survey of state prison wardens found that “less than 50% [of their facilities] had written policies specifically relating to medical care for pregnant women [and] only 48% offered prenatal services. Of the facilities in this second category, 21% offered prenatal counseling, 15% offered counseling to help mothers find suitable placements for their infants after birth and 15% had policies for lighter or no work during pregnancy.” (U.S. Department of Justice: Office of Justice Programs)
Ð Most women who use illegal drugs while pregnant are white, yet in several studies, the vast majority of the women either reported or arrested for drug use are women of color. (The Guttmacher Report, 1998)
Ð 78% of women in prison report that they have been physically or sexually abused. 50% of these women were abused by someone they knew, in contrast to 3% of men. 56% reported that the abuse included rape. (U.S. Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Statistics)
Ð Women who were abused or neglected as children face a 77% higher chance of arrest than a comparison group of women who did not experience abuse or neglect. (U.S. Department of Justice: Office of Justice Programs)
Ð Of those prisoners who commit violent acts, women are two times more likely than men to know the other person involved. (U.S. Department of Justice: National Institute of Justice) In fact, nearly two-thirds of the women serving a sentence for a violent crime knew the other person involved in the crime. (U.S. Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Statistics) The vast majority of these women were defending themselves or their children from abuse. The average prison time for a woman who kills her spouse/partner is twice that of a man who kills his spouse/partner. (Turning the Tide, 1998)
Ð Black women are incarcerated at a rate eight times that of white women. (The Sentencing Project)
Ð 5.1% of black and Hispanic females are likely to go to prison or jail at least one time during their lifetime, as compared to .5% of white females. (The Sentencing Project)
Ð 22.3% of women in prison held no job prior to incarceration. Of those who had jobs, two-thirds reported never receiving more than $6.50 per hour. (Wellisch, Anglin and Prendergast, Journal of Drug Issues, 1993)