Explanation for the High Rate of Incarceration for Indigenous Women

Research Essay

Marie-Rose Ishimwe

Student Id:                2943430

Subject Name:                2000 CCJ Sociology of Crime

Convenor:                 Dr. Melissa Bull        

Tutor:                             Corrie Williams

Due Date:                19 May 2016

Date Submitted:        19 May 2016

Word Count:                

The central theme of this paper is to provide an explanation for the high rate of incarceration for indigenous women. Firstly the essay will provide a brief overview of the general prison rate both for females and males within the Australian context. Secondly, an analysis will be provided explaining the role of indigeneity in explaining gender disparity between indigenous females and males. Thirdly, a sociological theory will also be used to explain this apparent disparity, and lastly the social implications in these trends will also be discussed. It is argued here that the high rate of incarceration among indigenous women is largely because of the historical context and inequality.

Imprisonment rates in Australia have significantly increased in the past 20 years. Administrative data reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007) found that there were approximately 27,000 inmates in the Australian prison. In addition to these rates, there was a rate of 32,000 prisoners per 100,000 in males and 24,000 per 100,000 in females, which gave a rise of 23% since 1997. This seems to suggest that, the prison population has grown faster than the general population.

Indigenous women are over represented In the Criminal Justice system. Data presented concerning offender rates as well as the proportional indigenous female offenders, shows that women are being incarcerated at a higher rate Cameron, (2013).  Studies indicate that imprisonment is seen as a short term solution since these women do not stay longer in prison Hage (2014). However, once indigenous women are exposed to prison they are more likely to return.  Jeffries & Bond, (2009) presented an exploratory study comparing sentencing outcomes for indigenous and non-indigenous women in Western Australia. Their research found that the rate of indigenous women in Western Australia increased from 439.7 per 100,000 in 1998 to 789.2 in 2007. This finding suggests that punishment in the Australian Criminal Justice system is radicalized. In contrast, Weatherburn, Fitz Gerald and Huna (2003) present the argument that sentencing outcomes between the two groups could be explained by the difference in sentencing behaviors. Moreover, administrative data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that between 2002 and 2012, the rate of imprisonment increased from 150 to 168 per 100,000 of the adult population ABS (2012).

Gender disparity plays an enormous role in the arrest and sentencing of indigenous female offenders Baldry & Cunneen (2014). Indigenous women are disproportionately incarcerated at high rates compared to the indigenous male rate. For instance, statistical data show that in 2000 indigenous women were more likely to be incarcerated than indigenous men. The rising number of incarcerated women is a contributing factor in the population eruption in women who come into contact with correctional system. The role of idigenity and disparity between female and male prison rate is evident through the ABS (2012) data, which showed that the rate of indigenous women’s incarceration is more than 50% higher than the rate of incarceration for indigenous men. For example, Baldry & Cunneen (2014) state that indigenous women with a diagnosis of complex needs such as mental health care have higher numbers of offences and convictions as opposed to those with no diagnosis.  Being an indigenous woman has a huge role to play in the distinction between female and male imprisonment rates. Research indicates that most of these women being incarcerated have experienced a wide range of disadvantage. As such, they grow up in unstable environments that expose them to different kinds of crimes. Consequently, high rates of incarceration among indigenous women are due to their upbringing environment. More empirical evidence suggests that indigenous woman have disproportionately high chances of being murdered, engaging in violence, and becoming a victim of assault or a victim of bodily harm Beckette, (2014). Therefore, these predisposing factors affect the stability of aboriginal women, making it easy to fall into crimes. Furthermore, The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission argues (2002) that the problem of increasing numbers of aboriginal women in prison is due to “landscape of risks”. This implies that the social position of the woman has disadvantages such as economic issues, traumatic experiences such as rape and abuse, social marginalization and damage to their identity.

In order to understand the drive behind the cause of indigenous women incarceration, one must understand their history. The invasion of white settlers in the early 1800s continues to have a negative impact on the remaining indigenous population.  Cunneen (2006), argues that indigenous Australians experiences of removal, dispossession, exclusion from education and employment, as well as institutional discrimination must be considered as having a part in Indigenous offending rates and over-representation in prison. These continues to have a significant negative impact on indigenous Australians particularly women Rowse (2013). This is evident in the continuing disadvantage faced by indigenous people in contemporary times.  Research show that Indigenous people continue to experience higher levels of social and economic disadvantage. This includes but are not limited to poverty, victimization, low levels of education and ill health.  The removal of indigenous children from their families meant that mothers were denied their rights to nurture their children. moreover Morreti and Palad (2004), hypotheses that  dis-attachment from family can lead to psychosocial problems such as mental health issues, which is the case for most indigenous people, as the result of the stolen generation. With such historical records, social issues and causes of crime among indigenous people particularly women have become common.

One of the main reasons why Aboriginal women are being incarcerated in high numbers is poverty. Poverty is a multifaceted that forces human choices, causing vulnerability and inequality. The effects of poverty are mutually reinforcing and circular such as poor health leading to poor work performance and poor work performance leading to unemployment. According to Bessant & Watts (2007) poverty is characterized by social situation of an individual or social group in which they are unable to satisfy their requirements.  Most women in the indigenous community come from poor families marred with history of alcoholism and abuse Prat (2012). Unfortunately, these women end up being victims because of their vulnerability.  In addition, Buck & Deutsch (2014) affirms that poverty does not only limit a person’s opportunities, but it also cripples future possibilities of a better live. As indigenous women lack sufficient resources, they resort to crime in order to sustain their unmet needs. Although poverty is a root of criminality among indigenous women, the theory is content, and as the next paragraph explains, there are more causes of high incarceration of indigenous women such as low levels of education. 

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