The book begins with the personal accounts of women who either have been or are currently imprisoned. Each of their accounts is unique; yet collectively their stories identify a range of issues that affect the lives of most women in prison. These include the impact of the "war on drugs" on women, the violence of criminal justice processes and of the prison environment, the effects of separation from family and friends, and the daily struggle for dignity and survival in prison. Other chapters locate women's criminalization and imprisonment in broader historical and social contexts. Chapters also examine current trends in women's imprisonment in the United States, Canada, England, and New Zealand. There are also contributions regarding recent developments in women's imprisonment in Poland and Thailand. Corrections policy issues that are affecting women inmates in Australia are considered as well. Six chapters focus on current issues in women's imprisonment. Topics covered include the impact of prison privatization on women inmates in Australia, the impact of the U.S. "war on drugs" on women, factors that have fueled the disproportionate representation of African-American women in U.S. prisons, the postrelease needs of women offenders, and the diminishing opportunities for researching what is happening to women in prison. For individual chapters, see NCJ-183051-61. Chapter notes and references and a subject index