WOMEN INCARCERATION TWICE THAT OF MEN

The United States is one of the top incarcerators of women in the world. A report shows that between 1980 and 2016, the number of women incarcerated in American jails and prisons increased by more than 700 percent from 26,378 in 1980 to 213,722 in 2016.

One has to wonder what is happening or not happening with women to curtail them away from criminal activity. Generally, women do not get into trouble easily. According to the Equal Justice Initiative, in 2016, there were 1.2 million women under the supervision of the criminal justice system.

While the rate of African American women has been declining since 2000, the 2016 rate for Black women (96 per 100,000) was twice the rate of imprisonment for white women (49 per 100, 000). The placement rate of Black females has been more than three times the rate of white females in the prison system, and still more than men incarcerated throughout the country.

What do these statistics say about the training and concern of Black females? What do they say about the breakdown in the Family… the Church… the School… in Society? Some may say that more and more females are taking matters into their own hands, even if it may mean doing things that are illegal. Some may also say that drugs play a major role. Others may blame it on the economy resulting in lack of employment.

Women are more likely to have a history of abuse, trauma, and mental problems when they enter prison, but treatment is inadequate or unavailable in prisons. More than 60 percent of women in state prisons have a child when under the age of 18.

Recognizably, there are numerous social reasons that women are incarcerated; however, existing social and educational resources should be reaching out to women who appear to be falling through the cracks.

Paying more attention to others, especially women in today’s world, is imperative!