Women in Prison: U.S. vs Sweden Incarceration Systems Compared

Comparing the Female Crime Rate: United States vs. Sweden

I selected Sweden, which according to the U.S. Department of State, enjoys a lower crime rate than that of the United States (Sweden, 2020: Crime and safety report, 2020). Examining data from a 2006 International Study of women’s prisons, America houses a total of 209,980 female inmates at the combined local, state, and Federal levels (International Centre for Prison Studies, 2008). The U.S. maintains a total of 108 female custody facilities (Young & Reviere, 2006). As of 2006 data, Sweden only maintains four female-only prison facilities, the largest able to accommodate 95 prisoners (International Centre for Prison Studies, 2008).

In America, women comprise 9% of the prison population, while in Sweden, women make up 6.8% (International Centre for Prison Studies, 2008). Drug offenses are the number one cause of incarceration for both countries (International Centre for Prison Studies, 2008).

Treatment of Female Prisoners: Similarities and Differences

Treatment of female prisoners in the United States and Sweden are similar in that both are housed separately from male prisoners (International Centre for Prison Studies, 2008). Health care is viewed as a basic necessity with a woman-centered approach in both countries (International Centre for Prison Studies, 2008). Both countries allow babies to stay with their incarcerated mothers, but for significantly different lengths of time (International Centre for Prison Studies, 2008).

Does Treatment Explain the Difference in Crime Rates?

I believe that Labeling Theory plays a heavy role in how female prisoners behave and are treated. The societal stigma against female parolees has been found to be greater than that facing males (Cowan, 2019). In step with Feminist theories, United States prisons are mainly designed for men, with vocational programs favoring traditional female careers such as secretaries or beauticians (Lilly et al, 2019).

I also believe the difference in living conditions and treatment contribute to the differences in crime rates. The living conditions in United States prisons consistently remind one that they are in a prison, where the Scandinavian prison model typically looks more like a home, even described as “cushy” (Larson, 2013).