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 …
Health and human rights of women imprisoned in Zambia
BackgroundThe healthcare needs and general experience of women in detention in sub-Saharan Africa are rarely studied and poorly understood.MethodsA mixed-methods study was conducted including in-depth interviews with 38 adult female prisoners and 21 prison officers in four Zambian prisons to assess the health and human rights concerns of female detainees. Key informant interviews with 46 officials from government and non-governmental organizations and a legal and policy review were also conducted.ResultsDespite special protection under international and regional law, incarcerated women's health needs–including prenatal care, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and nutritional support during pregnancy and breastfeeding–are not being adequately met in Zambian prisons. Women are underserved by general healthcare programs including those offering tuberculosis and HIV testing, and reported physical and sexual abuse conducted by police and prison officers that could amount to torture under international law.ConclusionsThere is an urgent need for women's healthcare services to be expanded, and for general prison health campaigns, including HIV and tuberculosis testing and treatment, to ensure the inclusion of female inmates. Abuses against women in Zambian police and prison custody, which violate their rights and compromise their health, must be halted immediately.
Feminism and Addiction
Contents * Introduction * I. Theory, Research, and Social Issues: Exploring Addiction in Context * A Descriptive Outline of a Program for Cocaine-Using Mothers and Their Babies * Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice: Gender Socialization and Women's Addiction: A Literature Review * Codependency: The Social Reconstruction of Female Experience * Powerlessness--Liberating or Enslaving?: Responding to the Feminist Critique of the Twelve Steps * II. Feminist Approaches to Training and Treatment of the Addictions * Challenging General Patton: A Feminist Stance in Substance Abuse Treatment and Training * Are We Keeping Up With Oprah?: A Treatment and Training Model for Addictions and Interpersonal Violence * Treating Women Drug Abusers Who Were Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse * Who's On Top?: Sexism, Alcoholism, and Systemic Therapy With Couples * Chemical Dependency Treatment for Lesbians and Their Families: The Feminist Challenge III. Special Issues in Treatment and Recovery: Reflection and Intervention * Women and Shame: Kin and Culture * Codependent or Empathically Responsive?: Two Views of Betty * Reflections of Male Codependency * Reference Notes Included