The Realities of Female Inmates in Colombia

This documentary review article's objective is to raise visibility regarding the reality of female inmates in Colombia by analyzing the existing literature in Spanish and English from the last ten years, using mujeres reclusas y prisioneras ("female inmates and prisoners") as search categories. Specialized databases, university repositories in Latin America and Spain, and various institutions' websites were consulted. Two hundred and one documents were selected based on this query, among which were reports, diagnoses, case studies, national and international regulations and undergraduate, master's and doctorate degree projects, as well as other documentary review articles. These are registered under Social and Human Sciences based on their different theoretical perspectives and methodological designs. Two categories emerge from the analysis' results: (1) Sociodemographic characteristics, and (2) Issues and needs. The conclusion was that female inmates in Colombia comprise a wide range of ages. Most are single mothers, and the prevalent crime is drug trafficking. Their issues are associated with the infrastructure of prisons, human rights, and negative impacts on their comprehensive health and family relationships due to imprisonment.