The focus of this chapter is on the female prison population, which accounts for 5 percent of the worldwide prison population. Women in custody look very different from men in custody; a consistent picture of deprivation, poverty, victimization, and marginalization characterize the female prisoners. The majority of women prisoners have experienced addictions, psychological distress, abuse, poverty, and unemployment. Drug and alcohol abuse are a common feature among this population, and their drug use histories appear to be heavy. Studies from the United States have found that women prisoners use more drugs with greater frequency than their male counterparts. Although used less regularly, significant proportions of women in prison display evidence of alcoholism or alcohol-related problems. Histories of abuse, both as victims and offenders, are another common theme recurring throughout the female prison population. Generally, female prisoners report histories of victimization that have taken place over their life course. Not surprisingly, female prisoners suffer more frequent and serious illnesses than male prisoners. Both suicide and self-injuries are common among this population. Overall, female prisoners commit less serious offenses and thus spend less time in prison than males; female prisoners tend to be younger than male prisoners; and psychological distress has been found to plague female prisoners to a greater extent than male prisoners. Not only are the backgrounds and characteristics of female prisoners distinct from those of male prisoners, female prisoners also have specific issues that are unique to them. Issues involving child care, housing, addiction, repeated victimization and imprisonment, bullying, and suicidal behavior are enumerated as the author argues that the needs of women in prison are different from the needs of male prisoners. Despite the knowledge that has been generated about the distinct needs of women prisoners, the small proportion of females in prison all but guarantees that the needs of men will dominate the criminal justice and corrections systems. In conclusion, the author notes that it is unlikely that the problems faced by female offenders will be solved within correctional institutions; indeed, current systems of custody may only exacerbate the problems and challenges of these women. Note, references