Substance use disorders among female offenders in the Criminal Justice System in East Africa
Authors
1.Ms. Faridah Nakoma (⚑ Uganda) 1
2.Prof. Kennedy Amone-P'Olak (⚑ Uganda) 1
1. Kyambogo University
Abstract
Introduction
A significant proportion of women who face incarceration in the criminal justice system (CJS) have substance use disorders (SUDs). Since men make up the majority of inmates, studies on the prison population primarily concentrate on males. Consequently, little is known about SUDs among female inmates despite UNODC’s (UNODC) emphasis on substance abuse as a significant contributor to crime among women.
Aim
We reviewed the literature to determine the gaps in our existing knowledge of SUDs among female offenders in East Africa.
Method
The Google Scholar search engine was used to find research studies published between 2014 and 2023 using the keywords "Prison," "Incarceration," "Inmates," "Substance use," "Drugs," and "East Africa." More than 40 articles were reviewed.
Results
Several gaps emerged from the numerous prevalence surveys reviewed. First, women make up a small proportion of offenders and typically come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Second, the majority of the reports on women focus more on their mental health than their substance use. In addition, in three out of the eight countries from which data were reviewed, there were no studies on substance abuse among female offenders. Third, a small number of the reviewed described social and psychological interventions for SUDs, none of which were for female offenders. Final, although there are reports of alternatives to jail for people with SUDs in two of the countries, none of them specifically mention women.
Conclusion
There is little information regarding women and SUDs in East African prison populations, despite UNODC's emphasis on substance abuse as a key contributor to crime among women. Further research is required to determine the drivers of SUDs among women in the CJS in East Africa.
Keywords: Women; Substance use; Incarceration; Criminal Justice System; East Africa
