Why Do We Need Gender Specific Programs

Of the incarcerated population in America, women make up about 8.8 percent of that. Though the number not as high as males, this is not to say gender specific programs aren’t a desirable need for women within correctional facilities across America. To create programs there must be a need for them and without a doubt women will highly benefit from these gender specific programs. These programs will aid incarcerated women in efforts to help them shape a better life for not only themselves but their children as well. They will also give women hope to be able to turn their lives around once being released from prison, and once out of prison give them incentive to be able to stay out and not be enticed to reoffend. Luckily for these women, thoughts
Each of which have had very positive outcomes for all of the women involved and have all seen a huge reductions in recidivism.

Women who have committed a violent crime are only about 5 percent of the sentenced violent offense population. However, in a women’s prison, women with a violent crime offense is the largest group, making up about 34 percent with a recidivism rate of 49 percent. One of the reasons proposed that recidivism rates are so high is because correctional facilities have men treatment and rehabilitation programs for these women offenders rather than having programs designed specifically for them. These women violators are a distinct population of women with gender differences in anger, mental health, perpetration of violence, and victimization of interpersonal violence such as child abuse and domestic violence. Mental health, trauma, and prior exposure to violence all play a role incarcerated women’s use of violence. Also, over a third of incarcerated women do in fact have serious mental health issues and illnesses. Most of the victims
Although, taking care of the babies involved is a high priority, it is necessary that there are programs that help aid incarcerated women in taking care of their children as they grow into toddlers as well. The years of their life at that age is just as important to the child’s development as a human being. A majority of incarcerated women have children and most of the inmate-mothers also regain the responsibility for the care and support of their children upon their release from prison. It has been said that the forced separation of a mother and child usually creates distress for both the child and the parent. This strong importance in the parent-child bond led the South Dakota Department of Corrections to create several programs to help the bond between female inmates and their children. One of these programs is called The Parent and Children Together Program (PACT). As previously mentioned, it is a program at the South Dakota’s Women Prison. It is basically an extended visitation program available for inmate mothers and their children. Inmates must apply for a PACT visit and have their application approved by the PACT coordinator in advance of the visit. The inmates must reach the classification of medium or lower to participate in this program. The need to have their application approved gives the women incentive to behave while in prison and want to better themselves. The primary