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Review of Department of Correctional Services' Research on Female Commitments

NCJ Number
116595
Date Published
1988
Length
62 pages
Annotation
This review of New York State Department of Correctional Services' research on female offenders summarizes studies on trends in the female inmate population, comparison and profile reports, domestic violence, recidivism, women committed for homicide, inmate mothers, time served, and Bedford Hills classification data. The report on new female court commitments for 1976-87 is included in full.
Abstract
Research on trends in the female inmate population covers new female court commitments for 1976-87, female inmate characteristics for 1975-85, and the trend of new female commitments for 1976-84. Comparison and profile reports cover a sample of 1986 new female commitments for convictions involving 'crack,' a comparison of male and female inmates as of June 1, 1983, a comparison of women under custody for 1912 and 1982, and trends and profiles for female inmates in various periods. One study focused on female inmates' involvement in domestic violence, and another analyzed the low recidivism rate among female offenders. Three research studies addressed the number of female commitments for homicide in 1986 and 1981 as well as a survey of 1980 female commitments for homicide involving a family-member victim. Two studies of inmates as mothers considered prison nursery programs in Bedford Hills facility and in women's prisons in 10 other States. Research on time served for female releases covers 1978-83. Five studies pertain to Bedford Hills classification data. The full study on new female court commitments for 1976-87 examines trends in the demographic and legal history characteristics of female offenders committed to the New York State Department of Correctional Services and presents comparative data on commitment offense type for male and female admissions.