Disparity In Prisons

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Pages: 7

The correctional system is used as a standardized way of attempting to transform criminals. Mary Bosworth (1996), suggest that men and women prisoners come from diverse ethnic, psychological and socioeconomic backgrounds, some have been abused victims, and others have been violent offenders. Regardless of their past they are all placed within the boundaries of concrete walls and live behind steel bars. Society is given the impression that tax payers’ money is used in order to keep prisons running smoothly with sufficient personnel and with hopes to rehabilitate criminals. When in reality some of these prisons within the United States are under staffed, overcrowded and the prisoners are not treated fairly. One current controversial issue within the correctional system is gender disparity. Men and women alike commit a variety of crimes, but everyone has different reasons which made them commit the crime. The correctional system is set up to be gender neutral in all aspects but in actuality it is causing more harm to women, due to the fact that men and women are …show more content…
When women seek medical attention at times they are told they are over exaggerating an illness in order to receive medication to get high. There has been several cases where a female inmate has died due to medical neglect in prison (Atwood, 2000). Young and Reviere (2006), identified that women inmates require more medical assistance then men. Women generally have more health problems that range from minor (reproductive issues) to major (cancer) that can affect them at any time regardless if they’re in prison or not (Young & Reviere, 2006). The adequate personnel need to assist these ill women is lacking in most facilities. Most prisons are mandated to provide only basic medical needs, and tend to neglect the more severe needs of females (Young & Reviere,