Handbook for prison managers and policymakers on women and imprisonment
Acknowledgements The handbook was prepared for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) by Tomris Atabay, consultant on criminal justice issues, based in Turkey. UNODC wishes to acknowledge with appreciation the significant role played by the Quaker UN Office (Geneva) throughout the development of the handbook. UNODC also wishes to acknowledge the valuable contributions received from the following experts who kindly agreed to review the handbook and provide comments and feedback: UNODC also wishes to acknowledge the support provided by the Governments of Canada, Sweden, New Zealand and Norway toward the development of the handbook. v Contents Introduction 1 1. The special needs of female prisoners 7 1. Challenges in accessing justice 7 2. History of victimization and mental healthcare needs 8 3. Gender-specific healthcare needs 10 4. Safety in prisons 14 5. Accommodation and family contact 15 6. Pregnancy and women with children 17 7. Post-release reintegration 22 2. Management of women's prisons 25 1. Gender-sensitive prison management 25 2. Staff 28 3. Assessment and classification 30 4. Safety and security 33 5. Prisoner activities and programmes 42 6. Healthcare 48 7. Access to legal assistance 58 8. Contact with the outside world 60 9. Preparation for release and post-release support 63 10. Pregnant women and women with children in prison 66 11. Special categories 72 3. Reducing the female prison population by reforming legislation and practice: suggested measures 81 1. Legal assistance on arrest 83 2. Diversion from prosecution 84 3. Pre-trial detention 85 4. Sentencing 88 5. Discriminatory legislation and trial procedures 95 6. Foreign national women 99 Management of women's prisons: key recommendations 103 Reducing the female prison population: key recommendations 111 References 115 1 Introduction Whom the handbook is for The present handbook forms part of a series of tools developed by The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to support countries in implementing the rule of law and the development of criminal justice reform. It is designed to be used by all actors involved in the criminal justice system, including policymakers, legislators, prison managers, prison staff, members of non-governmental organizations and other individuals interested or active in the field of criminal justice and prison reform. It can be used in a variety of contexts, both as a reference document and as a training tool. The main focus of the handbook is female prisoners 1 and guidance on the components of a …
Women in Prison: Approaches in the Treatment of Our Most Invisible Population
Abstract The issues and needs of addicted women are for the most part invisible in the criminal justice system. Historically, treatment, research and recovery have been based on men's lives, often neglecting women's experience. While statistics indicate that for women there is a high correlation between drug abuse and incarceration and parole/probation violations, a comprehensive continuum of care is missing. This article presents a relational model of treatment which incorporates the multiple issues in women's recovery and is based on the integration of three theoretical perspectives–addiction, trauma and women's psychological development. The strengths and limitations of Twelve Step programs for women are also discussed.
Neuronal uptake inhibitors, nisoxetine and fluoxetine on rat vascular contractions.
The importance of neuronal uptake processes in rat arteries and veins was compared using nisoxetine and fluoxetine, selective inhibitors for neuronal uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin, respectively. Nisoxetine (10(-7) - 10(-5) M) increased the sensitivity to exogenous norepinephrine in the portal and mesenteric veins (10-fold) and in the mesenteric artery (2.5-fold). Responses to field stimulation were also increased afternisoxetine in all three vessels. After nisoxetine, aortic responses to norepinephrine were unaltered and in all tissues, serotonin-induced contractions were reduced. Fluoxetine did not potentiate responses to norepinephrine or to field stimulation except in the mesenteric vein where sensitivity to norepinephrine was increased and the relaxation rate after field stimulation was prolonged. Although serotonin has been detected in blood vessels, fluoxetine did not increase vascular responses to serotonin. These studies suggest that rat mesenteric veins have a highly sensitive neuronal uptake mechanism of norepinephrine. Furthermore, these data provide indirect evidence against a functionally important serotonergic uptake process in rat blood vessels and suggest that neuronal uptake of serotonin does not exert a major role in terminating the vascular action of this biogenic amine.