Citation

Faris J, Miller JA. Prison J. 2010; 90(2): 139-160.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0032885510361824

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Perceptions of fairness affect how social actors behave and think. Incarcerated women perceive varying degrees of fairness in terms of their prison experiences and with respect to legal institutions that address family and related matters. The authors analyze census survey data produced by women in prison and during small group interviews with mothers in prison to examine how the law is understood by them, focusing on perceptions of fairness. All told, women perceive that when it comes to family matters, they are treated fairly within prison, yet they perceive injustices by the legal system. The authors conclude the article by proposing that women, to be reasonable parents once they leave prison, require transition programs, such as Reentry Court programs, that are comprehensive and gender sensitive.