Poetry
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To properly analyze female offenders in the criminal justice system, many considerations must be taken into account. Age, class, and race of offenders as well as types of crimes committed and gender disparity relating to crime. Another important element is how these factors change over time. The book invisible woman defines the typical female offender as “young, of color, undereducated, a single mother, poor, and dependent upon social services”. (bekley 47) To approach female offending effectively the Criminal Justice System must look at each of these factors individually. Focusing on only one factor such as age or race will do nothing but perpetuate the problem of female offending. Only when each area of concern is given equal attention will the Criminal Justice System see positive and lasting results.
The USA Today article states if women are to attain equality with men then “[t]hey have to be treated the same as men, even behind bars.” (pg.1) it goes on to say that women use men the way that men use guns. This implies that women should be looked at not just as victims but as victimizers as well. It implies that women are deviant and not all of their crime is blatant. The main point is that as a society we perceive women to be in “domestic roles” and therefore less dangerous. To fix this problem, women in the Criminal Justice System should not be coddled or viewed as less of a threat to society. If we put women on a level playing field with men then we will alleviate gender inequality, improve the Criminal Justice System, and reduce crime.
The Journal by Susan T Mendoza believes the key to dealing with women offenders is the use of feminist interventions with the incarcerated. This is much different then the view held in the USA Today article. According to Mendoza, the programs which are currently in place are ineffective because they are based upon “[s]tereotypes of women and programming for men rather than addressing the circumstances that led women to prison.”(pg.2) Mendoza