I.
INTRODUCTION
The management of female offenders is challenging and complicated. A need exists to ensure
that staff is adequately trained with regard to gender-specific issues that effect the daily operation
of a facility. Gender-specific training has the potential to provide staff of this agency with great
resources in offender management.
Performance Objectives:
II.
1.
Describe the growth population of female offenders.
2.
Identify how a female offender is profiled.
3.
Explain PD-29.
4.
Identify operational issues within a female institution.
5.
Identify cultural issues within the female population.
6.
Explain the importance of programming.
PRESENTATION
A.
Growth of Population
1.
The growth rate of the female offender population exceeds the rate of male
offenders each year.
2.
Since 1985, the female offender population has increased at a rate of 11.2%. This
represents an increase from 12,000 to almost 80,00.
In Texas, the percentage of females incarcerated within TDCJ increased 16.34%
between 1998 and 2005.
3.
The number of women in prison in the U.S. has almost tripled.
4.
Even with these rapid increases, female offenders still represent only 6-7% of the
total offender population.
5.
In Texas, the number of female offenders more than doubled during the 1990s
from less than 4,000 to over 10,000.
6.
TDCJ is responsible for programming for well over 12,000 female offenders.
7.
Overview of TDCJ – CID
The CID oversees the prison and state jail systems, prison support operations and
private facilities divisions. The prisons and state jails have 106 units housing over
151,000 offenders, including 94 state-operated facilities and 12 privately managed
facilities. Of these 106 units, thirteen house female offenders and provide a wide
range of incarceration services from traditional prisons to state jail facilities to
Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facilities (SAFPF) to co-gender medical
and psychiatric facilities.
B.
Profile of Female Offenders
1.
Age
The majority is between the ages of 24 and 35.
2.
Marital Status
The majority is reportedly single with fragmented family histories.
3.
Parenthood
The majority is unwed mothers with children under the age of 17.
4.
Education
The majority is functionally illiterate.
5.
Race
51% are African American
35% are Caucasian
14% are Hispanic
6.
Religion
Females have limited religious backgrounds and often develop during unit
religious activities.
7.
Other Profile Characteristics
Women offenders are most likely to have been convicted of a drug related
offense, survivors of physical and/or sexual abuse as children and adults, and have
physical and/or mental health problems.
C.
PD-29, Sexual Misconduct with Offenders
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The purpose of PD-29 is to provide guidelines for the maintenance of a work
environment within the TDCJ that is free of sexual misconduct with offenders, and to
provide procedures for the reporting of such misconduct.
If you observe or become aware of instances of abuse or questionable behavior, it
becomes your responsibility to report this information.
The operational reality is simple: Both male and female staff members become involved
with offenders in every combination imaginable.
D.
Operational Issues
1.
AD-03.22, Offender Search
In no situation can a male officer strip-search a female offender. The warden’s
approval must be obtained for a male officer to pat-search female offenders.
2.
AD-03.72, Offender Property
Additional authorized property for female offenders are seven bras (white in color
with no under-wire). Female offenders may purchase one additional closeable
storage container to hold gender-related items only. Females generally do not
engage in as much dangerous contraband.
3.
Use of Force Plan
There is no difference in the application of use of force between male and female
offenders. Female offenders may require more verbal intervention than male
offenders. Staff may underestimate the strength and deception of appearance.
4.
AD-04.17, Offender Housing Assignment Criteria and Procedures
There are very few differences between the classification of male and female
offenders. However, note that female offenders in General Population Level IV
(G4) specifically designed for housing General Population Level IV (G4) custody
offenders.
There is normally a dominant female, known as “the mother,” that assumes the
head-of-house role in all housing areas. Housing two “mothers” in the same area
can create problems.
5.
Work Assignments
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Some units move certain offender positions around every six months, i.e. clerical
positions. Frequent moving is required for janitor positions due to over
familiarity.
6.
E.
Miscellaneous Policies
a.
AD-07.50, Program for Offender Mother and Newborn Baby
b.
AD-07.18, Sex Offender Risk Assessment
c.
Visitation Plan
d.
Administrative Segregation Plan
e.
Post Orders
f.
Prison Deterrence Education Program
Cultural Issues
1.
Methods of Communication
a.
Slang
(1)
Bull dagging or stud broad – the masculine appearance or male
role, played by some offenders.
(2)
Night crawler – an offender that will crawl under the height of the
cubical walls to another offender’s bunk for a visit without being
detected by officers.
(3)
Female offenders will use masculine tenses when referring to other
females functioning in the male role.
(4)
Offender purse – female offenders carry contraband hidden in their
vaginal cavity.
(5)
Gay for the stay – homosexual activity among female offenders.
(6)
Keeping the edge up – personal grooming standards of genderspecific area.
(7)
She likes me funny – when an offender is attempting to establish a
homosexual relationship.
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b.
2.
Appearance
(1)
Females want to make themselves more attractive to both officers
and other offenders.
(2)
Female offenders generally do not look like “inmates” and very
easily can result in over familiarity with staff.
(3)
It is important for a female offender, even if it means high prices to
pay. This is not seen as extortion in the eyes of female offenders.
(4)
Females do not look as deceptive as males.
(5)
Females are more likely to communicate non-verbally, i.e. rolling
eyes and throwing hands up.
Emotional Foundations
Women have different emotional foundations. Women in prison normally have
been the victim of some type of physical, mental, or sexual abuse. Poor personal
hygiene may be an indicator of the offender having been the victim of sexual
abuse. Female offenders see people being nice to them and they feel like it
requires/deserves an exchange for something nice. Females have a need to be
desired, liked, and loved. Because of past abusive history, females become
aggressive without traditional warning signs. Women are more likely to make
emotional outbursts or declarations, such as “thanks for your help. I love you” or
“your hair looks so good today”. Females want to know why are not likely to do
something just because.
3.
4.
Cultural Diversity Issues
a.
African American women may be used to being the “bread winner” or
provider for her family. Communication with others is in a loud voice.
b.
Hispanic women may view female staff members as not having as much
power as male staff. This may result in yet another opportunity for future
manipulation of staff.
c.
Native Americans and Asian women lower their eyes when being
addressed as a sign of respect. It is not an automatic indicator of lying.
d.
Women are more talkative than men by nature. This can be more stressful
on both staff and offenders.
Dependency Issues
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Family dynamics form within housing areas, building on the emotional
foundations.
5.
6.
a.
Couples are in and out of relationships.
b.
Families become territorial in the dayroom.
c.
Female offenders normally stick within their own race.
d.
Unit design and offender population may effect the development of family
dynamics.
e.
Dominant offenders in each housing area are generally present. The
dominant female offender is the “mother” with lots of “children”. She is
generally seen as the family matriarch. These are powerful offenders
among the population.
f.
Female offenders group by relationships. The motivation of these
dynamics appears to relate back to the desire to take care of others.
g.
Rescuing can be defined as freeing from danger and an act of deliverance.
Historically the treatment of female offenders has centered on reforming
their morals. Today’s female offenders are far from the need to be
rescued. A female offender’s offense of record may be equally violent to
that traditionally associated with male offenders.
Over-familiarity
a.
Avoid over-personalization with offenders. Be prepared for how and
when to discuss an offender’s problems with her. Becoming personally
involved could comprise one’s authority. Information gained will
automatically be perceived to be about your own family, which can be
used against you later. If you give advice that does not work out well of
the offender’s family situation, they are likely to hold you liable.
b.
Empathy and sympathy are strategies utilized by offenders to violate
employee boundaries. Empathy bases itself on shared experiences,
attitudes, thought, and/or belief. Sympathy demonstrates feelings without
necessarily having the shared experience that created the feeling.
c.
Avoid gossip with offenders.
Strategies Utilized to Violate Employee Boundaries
a.
The Support System – the offender appraises the employee in an attempt
to befriend and develop a sense of commonality.
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7.
b.
The Touch System – offenders will create a touching situation with both
male and female employees. This does not necessarily have to be sexual
in nature. Accidental touching of an offender’s hand can also be
construed as encouragement for more aggressive sexual behavior.
c.
The Rumor Clinic – A well-placed rumor can be devastating to anyone’s
reputation. It creates doubt even in the minds of those who state disbelief
in the rumor.
d.
We/They Syndrome – This syndrome always pits one staff member
against another.
e.
Allusions to Sex – These involve comments of a sexual nature directed
towards a staff member but away from the manipulator.
f.
Offer of Protection – These can be minor or serious. They may be as
simple as the offender offering to take the heat for something.
g.
Plea for Help – The manipulator will portray a need for help while
implying that the intended victim is the only one that can help them.
h.
Female offenders will often use their children to their benefit whenever
possible, i.e. visitation and phone calls.
Methods to Maintain Professional Distance
a.
Maintain consistency with policies on touching.
b.
Establish boundaries and ensure they are maintained.
c.
Emphasis on issue during shift training
d.
Address and/or report any observations of over familiarity between staff
and offender to supervisors. Supervisors should be cognizant of warning
signs and address behavioral issues without hesitation.
e.
All staff should always reports advances or propositions received from
female offenders immediately.
f.
Understand the definition of a professional and strive to be one.
g.
Learn to recognize manipulation and take proper action.
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F.
h.
Monitor the seemingly casual offender remarks as well as their own
responses to the offender.
i.
Be in command of your area.
j.
Be knowledgeable about correctional procedures relating to approved
avenues offenders can pursue to acquire authorized needs.
Importance of Programming
Programs and services cannot be offered to offenders without appropriate security
measures. Security coverage for program activities increases the quality of the services
being delivered. Programs and services help meet our agency’s mission. They also
increase public safety by minimizing the risk of second-generation criminal behavior.
Research shows programming is the most effective tool for breaking the cycle of crime.
GO KIDS – This program gives offenders’ kids incentive and direction to succeed. To
that end, the agency is committed to providing opportunities for visitation as well as
incorporating programs which, in respect for maintaining public safety, include children
of offenders or impact the children of offenders.
III.
APPLICATION
Performance Objectives:
IV.
1.
Describe the growth population of female offenders.
2.
Identify how a female offender is profiled.
3.
Explain PD-29.
4.
Identify operational issues within a female institution.
5.
Identify cultural issues within the female population.
6.
Explain the importance of programming.
SUMMARY
We have been challenged to keep a sharp organizational focus. Correctional staff must
maintain their authority and control while exhausting all options. Regardless of size, age,
or gender, you must remain firm, fair, and consistent and not lose sight of the purpose.
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