Melissa is a female serving a life sentence for murder in a state correctional facility. She has been in prison for the past 10 years. She is now 36 years old. Melissa was pregnant when she entered prison with her second child. She was also addicted to cocaine and often turned to prostitution to support her habit. She ended up killing a customer who refused to pay her for her prostitution services.
-Melissa's drug addiction is not uncommon for female inmates. What percentage of female inmates are involved with addictive drugs?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately half of female inmates have a history of substance abuse or dependence. This is significantly higher than the general population, where only around 15% have a history of drug addiction. It is important to address and treat addiction among incarcerated women, as it is often a contributing factor to their criminal behavior.

Melissa Is a Female Serving a Life Sentence for Murder