Almost 50% of Female Inmates Sexually Abused

Investigators found that 48 percent of U.S. female inmates interviewed were allegedly physically or sexually abused, while 27 percent said they were raped, according to a new report issued by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The report is based on one-hour interviews with 6,133 inmates in 431 prisons in late 1995 and early 1996.

The number of female inmates in U.S. prisons is increasing faster than the number of male inmates: in 1983 there were 15,900 female inmates, in 1996 there were 51,600 female inmates reported. Approximately 37 percent of all U.S. inmates are white, 41 percent are African-American, and 18 percent are Hispanic.

Media Resources: Washington Post - April 27, 1998

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