Research Gateway

Abstract

Women, who usually lead protected lives. From childhood they are protected under the shelter of her father and after marriage under the shelter of her husband’s. But when those women come in conflict with law and are imprisoned, it becomes impossible for them to cope with the prison environment. Prison isolates the women from their family and friends. And most of the times even their family and friends reject them, which brings depression, guilt and torment on them. Traditionally, most of the prison inmates were males, and the prison environment is therefore shaped the needs of males and does not cater to the special needs of women prisoners. The gender disadvantage and discrimination get worsened during imprisonment, which is further amplified upon their release from prison. Women in prison suffer from double disadvantage. Women prisoners frequently become the victims of physical and sexual abuse by the jail authority themselves. At times, male staff does not hesitate to do frisk search on female prisoners. There are instances when prison staff have endorsed and supported bullying and verbal abuse of women prisoners, if they do not listen to them