Female inmates' perspectives on sexual abuse by correctional personnel
- Creator
- Calhoun, Avery J.
- Coleman, Heather D.
Female inmates' perspectives on sexual abuse by correctional personnel
This exploratory study examined dimensions of staff-inmate sexual contact in a correctional facility in Hawaii through two focus group interviews with imprisoned women. The women described three types of sexual abuse in prison: 'trading,' 'love,' and 'in the line of duty.' Findings include the women's account of these forms of abuse and their perceptions of responsibility for staff-inmate sexual contact in correctional institutions. The women's beliefs about factors contributing to sexual abuse of female inmates, including job expectations of and power issues among adult correctional officers (ACO's), and the consequences of reporting abuse are also discussed. Given the vulnerability of female inmates and the power dynamics that typify the prison context, further research on this problem is warranted.
- Creator
- Calhoun, Avery J.
- Coleman, Heather D.