A chapter on female criminality outlines the theories of female criminality, both historical and current; presents female crime statistics; and reviews the impact of theories of female criminality on treatment and punishment. Relying on two major works on the history of women's prisons (Freedman and Dobash), an overview of this history notes the roots of the differential treatment of women offenders in English common law. This tradition of legal and social sexual discrimination continued in America. A profile of women inmates describes them as poor minorities likely to have had problems with drugs or alcohol. They have often committed violent crimes or been parties to violent crimes. For most, prison is difficult; and separation from children and family is painful. An overview of women's prisons today focuses on programs, rules and punishment, co-correctional facilities, and women's prisons in England and Scotland. A chapter on staff addresses matrons, female correctional officers, and staff interactions with inmates. Another chapter examines the factors in and dynamics of women's subcultural adaptations in prison. Among the legal issues considered pertinent to women inmates are disparate sentencing, programming, medical services, and child custody and separation. Chapter references, subject index.