Women Prisoners and Health: The Implementation of Bangkok Rules to the Spanish Prison Legislation

• In Event: Mental Health and Incarceration

Abstract

This paper aims to take a close look at the reality of women prisoners in Spain. On the one hand, we will focus on describing the current situation of women incarcerated in Spanish prisons, an especially vulnerable group given their peculiarities and needs. Through secondary sources, we describe the situation of these women related to their health. Regarding this issue, the paper establishes whether the current Spanish prison legislation echoes some of the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures of Freedom for Women Offenders (Bangkok Rules, 2010). To this end, a detailed analysis of both standards, national and international, is essential. As a general conclusion, although Spain has high standard prison regulations and modern facilities, female prisoners in Spanish prison have many healthcare deficiencies. It is from such a perspective that this article proposes that the necessary changes and appropriate penitentiary policies to meet the specific needs of healthcare in female prisoners are established.

Author

• Ana Isabel Cerezo, University of Malaga