Healthcare for Female Inmates

Paper Summary:

The paper relates that the number of incarcerated women continues to increase and then looks at female prisoners' access to prenatal care, HIV and AIDS treatment and mental healthcare. The paper reveals that gynecological services are often the least available and most needed medical service of women in prison. The paper emphasizes that prenatal, infectious disease and mental health care not only benefit the inmates while they are incarcerated but they also benefit society once these women and their children are released into the general population.

From the Paper:

"The Eight Amendment is used to ensure equal healthcare for inmates, not just the majority of inmates, but all inmates including women. The prison system was not designed for women because there were very few women who needed to be incarcerated when the first state prisons were founded. As a result the rules and procedures were designed for men and their needs. Women prisoners naturally must get medical attention for their pregnancy, but also for HIV/AIDS infection and distinctive mental health issues. As women continue to make up a larger portion of the inmate population it is time we consider their unique health needs as well."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Kline, S., (1992). A Profile of Female Offenders in State and Federal Prisons. Federal Prisons Journal, Spring, pp 1-6.
• Lawson, W. T., Fawkes, L.S., (1992). HIV, AIDS, and the Female Offender. Federal Prisons Journal, Spring, pp 43-48.
• Gilliard, D. K., (1999). Prison and Inmates at Midyear 1998. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics.
• Begun, A.M., Jacobs, N.R., Quiram, J.F., (1999). Prisons and Jails - A Deterrent to Crime?. Wylie, TX: Information Plus.
• Ayers, K., Johnson, F., (1987). Health care of pregnant inmates. Owensboro KY.: Kentucky Wesleyan College Criminal Justice Research Center.

More papers on Healthcare for Female Inmates:

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• Term Paper # 146086 : "Healthcare for LGBT individuals"

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