Collaborative Development of Individual Discharge Planning for Incarcerated Women. Final Report

摘要

Women are the fastest growing segment within the criminal justice system, an increase which has been attributed to an increase in drug-related convictions and mandatory sentencing. In Rhode Island, all women offenders are housed in one prison facility with a medium security and a minimum security building across the street from each other (there are no jails). The number of women incarcerated in RI has increased 44% from 1986 to 1999. These women are fairly representative of national statistics: young (only 18% over the age of 40), more likely to be minority (26% African American, 12% Hispanic) than the nonincarcerated population (less than 10% minority); and incarcerated for short sentences (average of 6.76 months, with 49% serving less than one year). This population is costly to incarcerate, partially because of their medical costs, including pregnancy and pre-natal care and mental health needs; per year expenses average $51,000, exceeding the expenses of housing of male inmates. In addition, for each child moved into custody of the state, an additional financial burden is included in the cost to the taxpayer.