Pubdate: Tue, 26 Apr 2005
Source: Kansas City Star (MO)
Copyright: 2005 The Kansas City Star
Contact:  http://www.kcstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/221
Author: Joe Lambe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/women.htm (Women)

SYSTEM STRAINED AS MORE WOMEN ARE IMPRISONED

Evidence Grows On Need To Treat Incarcerated Women Differently

CHILLICOTHE, Mo. - The lure of cocaine, a stolen refund check, a
shoplifting spree and a dead infant cost them their freedom.

Now Carlotta Allen Hall, Carol Lesley, Dihann Coody and Bonnie
Segraves live in the same complex, locked away from the world, in a
place too many women end up these days: prison.

The four Missourians are part of a burgeoning population of female
inmates. Nationwide, their numbers have grown from about 12,000 in
1980 to more than 100,000 today. Missouri's two women's prisons are at
capacity, and females are being incarcerated at twice the rate of
increase for men.

Across the country, this influx has created gender challenges long
overlooked.

Male prisoners tend to quietly obey guards' orders and expect no help
from staff, experts say. Women talk back and expect programs to
improve their lives. Men might settle problems with fists. Women fight
with words.

Male and female criminals, it seems, are not the same. As such, they
shouldn't be treated the same, experts say.

In response, experts are studying findings and considering new
programs. They want to better manage women inmates, address the role
of drugs and improve prospects for their children.

Missouri, with the Midwest's highest incarceration rate for women, is
among states leading the effort. Together with Hawaii and Minnesota,
the state is working with the National Institute of Corrections on new
ways to assess female inmates. Missouri also plans probation and
parole changes.

A landmark study two years ago found that women enter the justice
system mostly for drug offenses or nonviolent crimes and respond to
the system differently than men.

Women are more likely to have been abused, suffer mental illness, be
addicted to drugs and be poor, the study found. Most are unmarried and
have minor children with no father around to take them.

Four women in Chillicothe Correctional Center, who agreed to tell
their stories, reflect some of the study's findings.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin