In conflict with women? : a gendered analysis of offenders electronically monitored in St. John's, Newfoundland

• Main Author: Maidment, MaDonna R.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1999
• Subjects: Canada; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/5972/; https://research.library.mun.ca/5972/1/Maidment_MadonnaR.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/5972/3/Maidment_MadonnaR.pdf

This research provides a gendered analysis of women and men who have recently participated in an electronic monitoring (EM) program in Newfoundland, Canada. The existing literature focusses primarily on the experiences of males and tends to be void of any conceptual analysis regarding gender biases. Debates surrounding the implementation of EM programs have been primarily concerned with issues relating to increased surveillance within the private sphere, cost-effectiveness, net-widening, and legal and ethical challenges. This lack of a gendered analysis is unfortunate since a review of the criminological literature clearly demonstrates that women's experiences with the criminal justice system are significantly different from those of men. -- Given women's structural location in society, their primary responsibility for child care and domestic labour, the nature and extent of their criminal convictions, and the level of state intrusion into women's lives, this study provides social scientific evidence that women's experiences with home confinement also differ dramatically from those of men. The unique situation of female offenders, as evidenced by the findings of this research, is at best a marginal consideration by local correctional officials in designing programs. The question of whether or not such programs can be 'modified’ to better suit the needs of women is one important dimension of this research. A more critical issue, however, is whether this should even be considered a desirable goal.