The imprisonment of African American women : causes, experiences, and effects

This book reviews the disproportionate number of African American women making up the United States' prison population, looking particularly at how the nation's prison systems are ill-equipped to meet the basic needs of its ever-growing population. Topics covered include reasons why young African American women are first drawn into criminal behavior; trends connecting incarceration to physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; the effects of incarceration on inmates' families and children; and possible preventive measures or alternatives to imprisonment.

The development of the American criminal justice system and its impact on African American women -- The overrepresentation of African American women in criminal justice -- Pathways to delinquency and imprisonment -- The abuse of African American women -- Criminal behavior of African American women -- Children of imprisoned African American women -- Regional pathways to imprisonment for African American women -- Health care pathways and issues for African American women in prison -- The final pathway : the execution of African American women past and present -- Conclusions and recommendations.