PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR INCARCERATED WOMEN

Programs and Services for Incarcerated Women

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of prison programs and services in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on prison programs and services and its relation with incarcerated women. The research also analyzes many aspects of prison programs and services and tries to gauge its effect on incarcerated women. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for prison programs and services and tries to describe the overall effect of prison programs and services on incarcerated women.

Programs and Services for Incarcerated Women

Introduction

Mainly because of the harsh laws and penalties for drugs, the United States has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of incarcerated women. New York was no exception: from 1973 to 2006, the number of women in the prisons of the State of New York has increased nearly 645 percent. Nearly 30,000 women are currently in the custody of the State of New York City or the criminal justice systems, whether in prisons or jails or on parole or probation. In addition to the prison population, the number of women incarcerated in New York has declined steadily over the last nine years - in 2005, however, the female prison population grew by 1.7 percent. In March 2006, there were 2852 women in state prisons. (Davies 2005)

Discussion

The need to focus on women in prison is not necessary to identify and resolve the difficulties that men face jail. However, because women have life experiences, occupying different social roles and family, and the communication between the prison to say that the economic situation of men, criminal justice policies and programs must be created to meet the needs of women and the issues. Such gender-specific approach, not only to provide essential support for women in prison, but also to create a benefit for children, families and communities directly affected by incarceration. (Davies 2005)

Nationally, 25 percent of adult women in prison, or have given birth during the year before their incarceration or are pregnant at the time of his arrest. New York State prison system has two programs that allow mothers to prison nurseries to support their children with them up to 18 months in a prison in Bedford Hills in New York County of Westchester, which has the capacity to home and 26 nursing mothers, and the other at Taconic prison, also in Westchester County, ...