Evaluation of the state of psychical health of female convicts (review of foreign literature)

The contribution analyzes the history of use of psychological correction for rehabilitation of convicts, notes that the interest for the peculiarities of behavior of women who serve a sentence appeared only in the end of last century. It examines the peculiarities of behavior of women in correctional institutions and differences in their reactions to the situation of isolation and restrictions from men’s reactions. It also fives an evaluation of the state of psychological health of female convicts in comparison with convicted men and women of general population. The authors note a high level of occurrence of different mental disorders the suicide level among women convicts. They emphasize the necessity of development of psychological and psychiatric help which in specific situations is more effective for women in comparison with disciplinary actions. The contribution marks the necessity of development of medical rehabilitational and social programs for women in correctional institutions, which are aimed at prevention of decompensation of their psychical state and aggravation of further social disadaptation.