San Diego Criminal Lawyers Blog
The number of women and girls who are incarcerated has increased seven-fold since 1980. While it is true that many more men than women are behind bars in this country, it is also a fact that women are entering jails and prisons at double the rate of men, with roughly 200,000 females behind bars today. When it comes to serving time in jail, a whopping 60% of women have not been convicted of a crime and are simply awaiting trial, usually because they cannot cough up the required bail money, which is typically about the amount they might earn in an entire year. If you are a female who has been charged with a crime, donnot believe for a minute that your gender or the fact that you are a mother will safeguard you from incarceration. Only a tough, experienced criminal defense attorney has any chance of accomplishing that.
Greater Rates of Incarceration
In the past few decades, certain factors have impacted the relationship of women and the criminal justice system. Among the most significant influences are:
- Tactical targeting by law enforcement;
- Technology and heightened information-gathering techniques;
- More outreach and cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
- Mandatory minimum sentences;
- Lengthy prison terms;
- Zero tolerance policies associated with drugs and violence.
Following incarceration, women find themselves recycling through the system due to serious issues related to the re-entry to society:
- Financial insecurity;
- Inadequate education and skills;
- Limited employment prospects;
- Housing restrictions;
- Issues related to family reintegration;
- Social stigma;
- Access to female-specific resources.
Female Incarceration Facts
- Women sentenced to state prisons are most likely there due to convictions related to violence (46%), drugs (25%), or property crimes (19%);
- Suicides involving incarcerated women have vaulted more than 60% in the past two decades;
- Incarcerated women die of alcohol or drug intoxication at twice the rate of men;
- Black females are imprisoned to the tune of 1½ times the rate of white females;
- Latinas are imprisoned at 1.2 times the rate of their white counterparts;
- While imprisonment rates for white women are increasing, rates of imprisonment for Black and Latina women are declining.
Juvenile Facts
- 14% of incarcerated youth are girls;
- Roughly four in ten juveniles who are incarcerated for status offenses such as curfew or truancy violations are girls;
- One-fourth of girls who are incarcerated are there for status offenses or parole violations.
- The number of girls living in residential placement centers has dropped by 75% in the last 20 years;
- Native American girls are incarcerated at more than four times the rate of white girls;
- Black girls are incarcerated at more than double the rate of white girls.
Are You Afraid of Incarceration?
If you are a woman who is looking at potential incarceration, the aggressive and dedicated criminal defense attorneys at Boertje & Associates will exercise every legal tactic they can to achieve the best possible outcomes for you. To discuss this, schedule a confidential consultation in our San Diego office today.