Proyecto Mujeres Carcel

Quaker Peace & Social Witness

Quaker United Nations Office Geneva

Quaker Council for European Affairs

Women in Prison and the Children of Imprisoned Mothers A briefing for Friends

Women in Prison Project Group August 2007

Women in Prison and the Children of Imprisoned Mothers: A briefing for Friends

Contents
Women in Prison: a summary Introduction to this briefing The majorissues Creating change Taking action Resources & contacts About the Women in Prison Project page 3 page 4 page 5 page 16 page 18 page 21 page 24

Published by the Crime, Community and Justice Group of Quaker Peace & Social Witness on behalf of the Women in Prison Project Group. August 2007

2

Women in Prison: a summary
"Women and men are different. Equal treatment of men and women does notresult in equal outcomes." (Corston Report) Men and women are alike subjected to imprisonment but little consideration has been given to the different needs and problems of imprisoned women as opposed to those of men. This omission may reflect the fact that women prisoners are a very small minority of the overall prison population: only four percent worldwide. Throughout the world, prison regimesare almost invariably designed for the majority male prison population and therefore do not provide for the needs of women. Women prisoners’ physical, mental and emotional needs differ from those of men. Prisons may be unable to offer adequate maternity and ante-natal care, or appropriate access to feminine hygiene products. Women can have different needs relating to problems such as substanceaddiction, mental health, anger management, a history of psychological, physical or sexual abuse. Female prisoners have a higher rate of mental illness and are more likely to have been victims of physical and sexual abuse than the general population and are at higher risk of self-harm and suicide. They may respond differently to security regimes and require less harsh forms of physical restraint. Inmixedsex prisons the security regime may be disproportionately harsher for women because it is designed for men. Most women in prison are mothers and/or the main carer for children, thus it is particularly important that ways be found of helping them to maintain family ties. The rights of the children of women who are imprisoned are also an important consideration. Research shows that custodialsentences are not appropriate for many women nor effective in reducing offending or reoffending. The experience of imprisonment can have damaging effects for both mothers and their children and can exacerbate mental health issues or problematic drug or alcohol addiction among women in prison. We do not ignore the needs of men in prison: our focus is on women in prison because they, and theirchildren, have been generally neglected by researchers and governments. We hope this work will lead to further research and to more positive and sensitive government attention worldwide for women offenders and women likely to offend. Women in Prison Project Group August 2007

3

Introduction to this briefing
Quakers' concern Quakers have been involved in issues of criminal justice and conditionsfor most of the 350 years of our existence. The belief that God is in every individual prompts us to see criminals as human beings with dignity and rights and to care for their welfare no matter what their crimes. We do not believe that anyone is outside God’s love. Crime is an area where both forgiveness and justice are needed.
The long-standing Quaker involvement in criminal justice and humanrights issues at the national, regional and international levels has led to increasing concern about the under-considered and growing problem of women in prison and the situation of children of imprisoned mothers. We share the concern that prison is an inappropriate place for many women because (a) women are not so dangerous as to warrant this level of security, and (b) they are often in need of...