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Is it gender bias or gender equity that make Oklahoma #1 in female prisoners?

By Douglas A. Berman

The question in the title of this post is prompted by this recent story from Tulsa World, which is headlined "Oklahoma leads nation in female incarceration." Here are excerpts: It?s ironic that the state history of Oklahoma?s female prisoners begins with a reproach to the Kansas penal system. Although corrections officials say that rates of crimes by women and convictions in both states are comparable, today Oklahoma women end up in prison approximately three times as often as women in Kansas. And while Kansas lawmakers are earning accolades for prison reforms that have reduced prison populations by creating alternatives for some offenders, in Oklahoma, the number of incarcerated women is at a historic high. Mike Connelly, head of the evaluation and analysis unit at the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, calls it ?the hockey-stick look...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on February 02, 2011 (boomark / email).