INCARCERATED FEMALES

Research Proposal on Problems of Incarcerated Females



Research Proposal on Problems of Incarcerated Females

Introduction

Over the years, various studies have been carried out on the topic of incarcerated women and the problems that they face in the prison setup. In this study, we will particularly focus on problems of healthcare and family support that incarcerated women face in jails. After studying a plethora of literature on the said topic, it will be revealed that with the increasing rate of criminal activities across the globe, the involvement of women in criminal acts is also growing. This has lead to an increased rate of incarcerated women in the prisons everywhere. However, women still comprise of a minority in prison set up and as a result, they are subjected to discriminatory practices and maltreatment (Bloom, Owen & Covington, 2003).

Research will also disclose if women living in prisons are often times deprived of proper healthcare facilities or not. This especially pertains to those women who are pregnant or have recently given birth to their young. Pregnant women, as well as those who are going through their post-partum period of time are vulnerable to diseases and are in dire need of proper healthcare facilities. (Belknap, 2008) The problem worsens when, at times, pregnant women are infected with HIV and they gave birth to HIV positive children. Statistics by Brown University HIV and Hepatitis Education Prison Project (HEPP) showed that women who are incarcerated are three times more vulnerable to be infected with HIV as compared to their male counterparts. In US prisons alone, the proportion of prisoners with HIV is 3.5 % for women and 2.3 % for men (Beck & Hughes, 2005).

This is a much higher ratio of HIV infected patients in prisons as compared to the general population. Apart from this, pregnant women have certain healthcare needs which require special facilitations which are usually not available in prisons. The infants born in prisons also need special healthcare as well as emotional care from the mother, which the environment of the prison often hampers. (Clear, Cole & Resig, 2009)

Literature Review

Women prisoners should receive care tailored to their needs. Thus, tests such as mammograms and screenings for cervical cancer of the uterus should be performed. In addition, they are entitled to gynecological consultations. Such consultations shall take place outside the presence of a guard, with the only gynecologist. These measures safeguard the confidentiality and dignity of the inmate. Pregnant women cannot give birth in prisons due to lack of suitable housing. In general, the prison comes into an agreement with a public health so that the neighboring types of procedures takes place in private premises. Even then, delivery must take place outside the presence of the guardian (Giallombardo, 2006).

It is always to respect the dignity of women giving birth. As far as the question of woman keeping her child with her after giving birth is concerned, if the conditions of detention are appropriate, the mother can keep her child until the age of 18 ...