Experiences of Abuse: African American Women in US Prisons

This essay examines the experiences of African American women within the United States prison system, highlighting the disproportionate rates of incarceration and the various forms of abuse they endure. It notes the historical context of rising female incarceration rates, particularly among black women, influenced by law enforcement policies and mandatory sentencing. The essay details instances of abuse, including sexual harassment and assault by correctional officers, using a case study to illustrate the systemic issues and impunity. It also references a film that depicts the mistreatment of black women in prisons, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms within the judiciary and correctional facilities to ensure humane treatment and eradicate abuse. The essay concludes by reiterating the necessity for intervention to address these problems and uphold the dignity of all individuals, regardless of their inmate status. Desklib provides access to similar essays and resources for students.

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Institution
Course
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African American Women in Prison
The United States is known for its crowded prisons. While the population of the United
States is only about 5% of the world population, it houses more than 20% of the incarcerated
people in the world (Campbell, Michael, Matt and Joshua, 183). The 1980s saw a dramatic
change in the nature of crime laws and the number of people being imprisoned (Kubrin, Charis
and Carroll, 18). At the start of that decade, the number of women in prison was approximately
13000 (Kaeble, 17). This number represented only 4% of the total prison population in the
United States (Stevens and Danelle, 561). In the next two decades that followed, the rate of
imprisonment for women increased. The rate increased to become higher than that of men. By
the year 2010, women in prison represented about 7% of the total prison population in the US
(Travis, Jeremy, Bruce and Stevens, 7).
It is important to note that race is an important factor when it comes to imprisonment
(Omi, Michael and Howard, 14). It is sad to note that at the beginning of the millennium, the rate
of imprisonment for black women was about six times that of the white women (Pratt, 17).
Women are usually arrested for petty crimes and are usually accomplices to men perpetuating the
crimes (Wacquant, 105). Most of the imprisonment cases concerning women revolves around
drugs. The United States has put stringent measures when it comes to the issue of drugs which
may partly explain the situation (Gross, 27). There were two main factors that contributed to the

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rise in the imprisonment of African American women at the time. One of the factors is the law
enforcement policies introduced at the time which targeted the minority communities (Mullings,
14). The other factor was mandatory sentencing laws.
It is interesting to note that changes in policies over time have led to increase in the
number of female prisoners (Kearney, 14). In addition, the policies have contributed to changes
in the racial makeup of the imprisoned women. As noted earlier, African American women were
incarcerated at a rate of about 6 times that of the white women at the beginning of the
millennium. In the contemporary society however, the white women have a higher rate of being
arrested when compared to the African American women (Monteith, 31).
Experiences of Abuse
African American women undergo abuse when in prison (Miller, 29). Although this
happens to the white women too, extensive evidence shows that black women are at a higher risk
of being abused than their white counterparts (Lee, 270). Most of the abuse is usually perpetrated
by the correctional officers who are supposed to protect the women and ensure that they are
provided with food and other necessities. This section is going to analyze the case of Dorothy
(not her real name) to demonstrate the kind of abuse that African American women go through
while in prison.
Dorothy was serving a 9 year sentence. She was accused of selling narcotics. She says
that she was delivering some mail on behalf of her boyfriend oblivious of the fact that the mail
contained some narcotics. It is sad to note that she received such a long sentence despite pleading
with the court that she was not aware of what the envelope contained. She has never suspected

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her boyfriend and was shocked to learn that the envelope contained drugs. It is worth noting that
Dorothy is an African American woman.
While in prison, male correctional officers were allowed to look after the women in the
correctional facilities. She says that the guards would be allowed to monitor them while
showering, eating, sleeping and even using the toilets. In addition, to this, the correctional
officers were responsible for issuing food, toilet papers and other necessities to the incarcerated
women. She recalls of one day when one of the correctional officers asked for sexual favors for
him to continue providing her with food and other necessities. At first, she though that the guard
was joking. However, the officer started reducing the amount of food and other amenities for her.
Dorothy knew that reporting would not yield much fruit but she decided to report the mater any
way. Nothing was done.
The officer continued asking for the favors. When she refused, the officer made her life a
living hell through extreme reduction in the amount of meals and other necessities that she
needed/ was entitled to. She says that the officer did this with total impunity as though he was
sure that no action is going to be taken against him. She recalls that one day when she was alone
in the laundry room, the guard showed up and locked the door from the inside. He used force to
rape her. She reported this matter but nothing was done about it. The abuse affected her greatly
and soon she was almost grappling in to depression. Due to the great psychological torture that
she was going through, she requested for a counselor. Her request was denied. She tried several
other times with the same fate. This case is a clear illustration of the forms of abuse that the
African American women undergo while in prison.

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Sexual Abuse from Guards
As observed in the discussion above, male correctional officers are allowed to look after
women prisoners/inmates. Extensive evidence reveals that there cases of sexual abuse are
rampant in the correctional facilities. In the year 1999, the federal government appreciated the
fact that these cases are there but claimed that the full extent of the nature of the crime could not
be determined because women do not report the cases (Wanzo, 14). It is worth noting that
although both white and black women are affected by the abuse, the black women are affected
more.
Most of the times, the guards ask for sexual favors in exchange of food and basic needs
for the woman in question (Enns, 877). It is good to indicate here that the woman is entitled to
these things only that the guard is abusing the responsibility that is entrusted to them. Some of
the women give in to these cruel demands just to obtain the basic necessities. Those who do not
give in go through living hell as evidenced by the case of Dorothy. Some of the officers also rape
the women. Reporting the cases usually do not yield any fruit. This means only one thing, that
the woman will continue suffering.
It is sad to note that such practices happen even in the 21st century. The behavior of the
officers could be referred to as the highest form of impunity. They do this with the assurance that
nothing will be done to them (Abramovitz, 9). Theirs is a lawless society where they can do
anything that they want and at any time that they like. There is need for radical changes in the
leadership and administration of the judiciary and the correctional facilities (Bhandari, 2108).
Then and only then will things change. Otherwise the current behaviors will persist.

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Civil Brands Movie
The civil brands movie showcases the forms of abuse that women go through when in
prison. It perfectly illustrates the fate of black women in correctional facilities. It is a film that
revolves around the mistreatment of black women in prisons/correctional facilities. The movie
presents a group of black women who face various forms of abuse from two guards. The abuse
includes both verbal and sexual forms. This group of abused women soon gang up to refuse
oppression. They are joined in their endeavor by a young law student who is employed as a part
time guard in the correctional facility. Their unity becomes their strength and they hold an
uprising against the brute wardens.
In a way, the movie helps us to appreciate the forms of abuse that the women go through
while in prison. In addition to this, the movie presents hope both to the public and to the inmates.
The hope is that the oppression would end someday soon. There is an urgent need for radical
changes in the judiciary and the correctional facilities to ensure that these forms of abuse are
completely eradicated from the correctional facilities. Human beings should always be treated
with the highest form of dignity whether they are inmates or otherwise.
Conclusion
The population of the United States of American is 5% of the population of the world.
Despite this, the country has more than 20% of prisoners. There has been changes in the trend of
imprisonment in the last few decades. During the early 1980s, women composed only a small
proportion of the inmates. Over the years, the number of women being imprisoned has
continually increased. African American women go through various forms of abuse while in

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prison. Although even their white counterparts go through abuse, they have a higher chance of
being abused,
Abuse takes different forms including verbal and sexual. The women are usually
oppressed by the guards who act with a high form of impunity. Reporting any case of abuse is
usually as good as useless for it is unlikely to lead to any action. It is sad that these things happen
in the current day and age. There is need for urgent intervention to solve the problem.

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