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Women behind Bars a Sociological exploration in Orissa

The present paper attempts an understanding of women criminals and their situation. The study is based on women prisoners in Orissa. The State of Orissa has 68 prisons that consist of 4 circle jails, 9 district jails, 46 central, special and subsidiary jails, and one Nari Bandi Niketan. A total of 277 women prisoners were selected from among these jails through census method which included convicts as well as under trials. The study is directed along the following four lines, namely social and demographic background, level of security and privacy for women in prisons, prison facilities and problems for women prisoners, and extent of human right awareness among the women prisoners. The study findings reveal that most of the women prisoners come from mariginalised socio-economic background. They are invariably poor and illiterate. Prison environment is severely gender insensitive. There is widespread sense of insecurity among women prisoners and they are not entitled to any kind of privacy. There is abysmal lack of awareness about human rights among women prisoners. It is very striking to note that 70% women prisoners even do not know the consequences of their criminal activities, e.g., a jail sentence. The study has relevance for understanding women criminals and has important policy implications.