Impartiality or Individualization? Imprisoned Women’s Discourses of (In)Justice

Abstract

Using in-depth interviews with forty women in one California prison, the research addresses incarcerated women’s perceptions of justice regarding their experiences with the criminal justice system, particularly concerning the internal prison grievance system. This article focuses on interview subjects’ perceptions of (in)justice regarding problems relevant to the grievance processes. The most prominent discourses of justice revolved around procedural and substantive justice issues in seemingly contradictory ways. These discourses emerged from three main areas of discussion: everyday prison operations and interactions; the design and operation of grievance procedures; and dehumanizing prison processes and policies and sexual assaults and abuse. The article highlights the seemingly contradictory nature of the justice ideals put forth, discusses the contextual nature of these perceptions and, reflecting on justice and legal theory, offers some conclusions and recommendations, addressing the Prison Litigation Reform Act.