Women in U.S. Prisons
Statistics
- In 1997, there were 138,000 women in prison in the United States. Most of
these incarcerations were drug-related or self-defense.
- The number of women incarcerated in the United States is TEN TIMES more
than in Western Europe, whose female population is EQUAL to the United States.
- African American women are 8 times more likely to be incarcerated that
white women. Hispanic women are 4 times more likely.
- 70% of guards in U.S. women's prisons are men. In Canadian women's
prisons, 91% are female.
- 12 states still have NO laws prohibiting sexual contact between women and
their jailors: Alabama, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana,
Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.(www.amnesty.org)
The Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners set by the United
Nations in 1990 consist of eleven statements to be applied to all prisoners.
Three of these eleven principles can be applied specifically to the rights of
women in prison. Principle 1 states that "all prisoners shall be treated
with the respect due to their inherent dignity and value as human beings."
Principle 2 states "there shall be no discrimination on the grounds of race,
colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or
social origin, property, birth or other status." Principle 9 states that
"prisoners shall have access to the health services available in the country
without discrimination on the grounds of their legal situation"
(www1.umn.edu/humanrts/instree/g2bpt.htm). It is necessary to keep these
principles in mind when examining the treatment of women in prison.
Although atrocities are taking place in prisons all over the world, it
is important to examine the treatment of women in U.S. prisons. Over the
years numerous reports have come out documenting abuse of women in prison.
This abuse can be separated into sexual abuse and medical neglect.
Sexual Abuse
"That was not part of my sentence...to perform oral sex with the officers."
-New York prisoner, Tanya Ross to NBC's Dateline
"I'm tired of being gynecologically examined every time I'm searched."
-California inmate to Amnesty International
Sexual abuse is rampant in U.S. prisons. William Schulz, the
executive director of Amnesty International USA, stated that "sexual abuse is
virtually a fact of life for incarcerated women in the U.S."
(www.amnesty.org) It can be examined in terms of powerlessness,
humiliation, retaliation, and fear. According to Amnesty International,
female prisoners often experience sexual abuse during routine searches. This
includes rape, sexual extortion, and groping. There are often male
correctional officers watching the women undressing and showering.
Unfortunately, the women are often afraid to report such incidences. Not
only do the guards frequently threaten to take away visitation rights to keep
them quiet, but they also have complete access to each inmate's file, which
includes any reports against the guards. If the guard is reported and
punished, the punishment usually only consists of his transfer to another
facility.
Medical Neglect
As well as rampant sexual abuse, medical neglect is common for women
in U.S. prisons. Amnesty International lists a number of issues involving
medical neglect. One such example if the failure to treat seriously ill
inmates. This includes treatment for diseases ranging from diabetes to AIDS.
Another example is the lack of qualified personnel in the prisons. This
means that frequently non-medical staff is used in medical situations. One
of the major repercussions of this is that there are delays in receiving
treatment and frequent overmedication. Reproductive needs are another major
concern. As of 1994, only half of the prisons offered services such as pap
smears and mammograms. A final problem involves the lack of adequate mental
services. Very few prisons provide counseling for women with pre-existing
conditions and often the inmates are given medication without other treatment.
www.amnesty.org
United States vs. International Standards
The standards in U.S. prisons differ greatly from those recognized
internationally. Three major differences exist between the two. The first
of these involves the use of male guards. Internationally, it is stated that
only female guards should work with female prisoners. In the United States,
however, male guards are the norm and are allowed to watch the women at all
times, as well as being able to touch them during searches. The second of
these deals with physical restraints. Internationally, restraints are used
only when physically necessary, however, in the United States they are
common. Even a woman giving birth is shackled to her bed. Both of these
differences have an obvious impact on female prisoners. The third difference
is that international standards denounce any sort of solitary confinement but
this practice is common in U.S. prisons, including prisons for women.
www.amnesty.org
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