Anand Bhat University of Illinois at Springfield Women and Criminal Justice- An outsider perspective

Women in the criminal justice system are somewhat of an enigma. On the one hand there is a large void of study or research in the field; on the other hand there is a growing interest in the area given the gradual equality women are gaining in modern society. This new interest has brought with it a wealth of new information both revealing and shocking. The disparity women face in any sphere both behind the bars and in front of it is shocking to say the least.

The book Couldnt keep it to myself by Wally Lamb et al. is one such work that seeks to unveil the shrouded world of the womens correctional system. It seeks to destroy the misconceptions and the myths surrounding the millions of women currently serving prison terms across America, with a special focus on the York correctional facility. Often the first human instinct is retribution and most people initially want prisons to be places that make life miserable for people incarcerated because they are bad people. This notion was what made prisons more of a place of punishment than rehabilitation.