Treatment of Female Offenders in Prison: The Case of Cameroon

Abstract

The increasing absence of the concerns and challenges of female offenders in African prisons is gradually becoming an accentuated phenomenon. Even though this is partly due to their relatively small number, the special problems and needs of female offenders are absolutely necessary for a conducive prison life. Female inmates are plagued with problems related feeding, sleeping arrangements, health care, recreational facilities, freedom of movement and pregnancy and childcare in or out of prison. The deplorable prison conditions adapted to accommodate the special needs of women coupled with the differential attitude of prison staff towards female offenders have an adverse effect on women's physical and mental health and development. This study aims to promote the human rights and dignity of female offenders in Cameroon. It focuses on the challenges women experience in prison and considered possible policy reform to address these challenges. The research involved 10 female inmates and employed a purposive sampling It adopted a descriptive design with interview guides and focus group discussions as main tools. Data was analyzed using thematic content analysis to highlights the challenges and marginalized voices of women offenders in Cameroon.