Female Inmates and Mental Health

Abstract

The increased number of women involved in the criminal justice system has raised concerns about female inmates with mental health needs. Data shows that female inmates experience mental health issues at much higher rates than male inmates, but are not given treatment that recognizes their unique experience as females. Female inmates with mental illness tend to have histories of trauma and are likely to have co‐occurring substance abuse disorders. This entry provides an overview of the prevalence of mental health issues among female inmates, recommendations for carrying out gender‐specific mental health treatment in the criminal justice system, and a brief summary of promising treatments that are already in place to address the mental health needs of female inmates.