Women prisoners in Turkey

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the essential reasons which lead women to commit crimes, and the rehabilitation programmes and activities which aim to prepare them for their re-entry into social life after imprisonment. To achieve the aim, firstly, a short introduction, which includes the research problem and method of the study, is given. Secondly, the findings of the study are presented: (1) demographic and socio-economic background; (2) the types of the crimes committed and their causes; (3) conditions in prisons and rehabilitation applications. Finally, analysing all findings together and proposing new approaches draws a conclusion. The present study deals with women prisoners who have violated written rules or laws and for this reason have been found guilty, sentenced and imprisoned. The following questions need answers. Why do individuals commit crimes? Why should individuals be punished? What must be the correct practice to improve the behaviour of criminals as well as prevent them from committing further crimes? The views and approaches concerning punishment and rehabilitation have undergone different evolutionary steps.1 Not only the causes of criminal behaviour but also the rise and fall in crime statistics and the ways in which crimes are committed, are all worthy of interest. However, there are still many unanswered questions, although many studies have been done in the past in order to explain these issues.2 To return to the main subject of this study, the disadvantaged social position of women in comparison with men and their abilities to give birth, their roles in bringing up children and teaching socio-cultural values, and thus contributing to the formation of the next generation put women in a special position. We imprison people named and labelled as criminal. We deprive them of their basic human rights by at least isolating and limiting their freedom in many aspects. Additionally, a large amount of taxpayers' money is expended to feed them, to keep them healthy and to rehabilitate them. How can we prevent or solve the problem? How can we minimize the negative impacts of it on social life? How can we provide and maintain social order, peace and welfare? This study aims to produce insights into the kinds of crime committed by women prisoners in Turkey and their socio-economic backgrounds, as well as to find out whether there are any activities in the prisons to treat/rehabilitate them and to prepare them for a future social life after releasing them from prison. To achieve this the following assumptions are also tested: