Women In Prisons Treated More Harshly Than Men

By Jason Marck
Illinois Department of Corrections officers participate in a role-playing exercise during a March training session on working with female inmates, at Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, Ill.
Illinois Department of Corrections officers participate in a role-playing exercise during a March training session on working with female inmates, at Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, Ill.
Illinois Department of Corrections officers participate in a role-playing exercise during a March training session on working with female inmates, at Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, Ill.
Illinois Department of Corrections officers participate in a role-playing exercise during a March training session on working with female inmates, at Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, Ill.

Women In Prisons Treated More Harshly Than Men

By Jason Marck
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A recent investigation by the Chicago Reporter, NPR and Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism revealed some shocking statistics and stories about how women are treated in the U.S. prison system.

It turns out that female inmates are disciplined more often and more harshly than men for low-level violations, including infractions like having a piece of candy or showing physical affection.

Morning Shift checks in with one of the journalists behind the story as well as a former corrections official who now works on prison reform.

GUESTS: Jessica Pupovac, freelance reporter and radio producer

Deanne Benos, co-founder and co-director of the Women’s Justice Institute

LEARN MORE: Women In Prison Punished More Harshly Than Men Around The Country (Chicago Reporter 10/14/18)

In Prison, Discipline Comes Down Hardest On Women (NPR 10/15/18)