Soc 329 – AI Women

1. Soc 329 – AI Women Amnesty International Reports (external) Govt reports often gloss over problems (internal) Basic Problems:

2. Soc 329 – AI Women 1. Powerlessness & Dependency • Sexual exploitation • Sexual assault • Sexual humiliation (Mostly by guards!!)

3. Soc 329 – AI Women 2. Retaliation and Fear • Records often open to guards • Visitation by children threatened • Complaints are punished -- writeups or adseg

4. Soc 329 – AI Women 3. Impunity of staff • Virtually no protections for prisoners • Note: male inmates protect themselves through violence/retaliation/gangs

5. Soc 329 – AI Women Sentencing and War on Drugs (box) Many women prisoners are low level drug offenders with nothing to trade (often girlfriend of boyfriend dealer - boyfriends trade out)

6. Soc 329 – AI Women Medical Neglect - issues usually money Lack of medical attention, services often leads to serious injury or death

7. Soc 329 – AI Women Lack of med staff • poor quality of medical treatment • non-medical screening • routine drugging (psychotropic)

8. Soc 329 – AI Women Charging for medical treatment violates international law! but saves "taxpayers" money!

9. Soc 329 – AI Women Lack of reproductive medical care • even routine screens usually not available • lack of care harmful to mother & baby • shackling is especially harmful

10. Soc 329 – AI Women Drug treatment declining money is the main issue

11. Soc 329 – AI Women Discrimination is rampant: • race/ethnic • class • sexual orientation

12. Soc 329 – AI Women Two more points: 1. US refuses to adopt most international human rights protocols protecting women and juvenile prisoners. 2. Privatization often makes the problems worse - cost-cutting to save money.