Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31299/ksi.29.2.1
Female prisoners’ looks to the future
Tea Čutura
; Slavonski Brod Social Welfare Center
Marijana Majdak
orcid.org/0000-0003-3725-383X
; Faculty of Law of the University of Zagreb, Social Work Study Center
Abstract
Conducting research among female prison population is generally difficult given the specific position of these women and the accompanying conditions. In addition, very few studies have addressed their perceptions of the future. The aim of this paper is to examine perceptions and expectations of the future among female prisoners to gain insight in the matter and propose specific methods of self-improvement during the execution of prison sentence. Qualitative research based on semi-structured interviews for data collection has been carried out. Nine female prisoners serving prison sentence in a penitentiary took part in the research. The data was processed by using the content analysis. The findings have shown that, in general, female prisoners demonstrated positive outlook for the future, although they were aware of the difficulties and challenges they had to face upon release. Female prisoners were planning to spend time with family members, looking after their children. They also hoped for improved family functioning. In respect of challenges, they referred to the problems of making up for the time spent in the penitentiary, addressing the issue of child custody and finding a job in light of disapproval of former female prisoners and prejudice against them. Furthermore, in case of some female prisoners, the possibility of reoffending represented a challenge. In that sense, self-improvement and desire for change were of crucial importance.
Keywords
female prisoners; penitentiary; future; expectations; challenges
Hrčak ID:
269310
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2021.
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