Collins (community and human services, State U. of New York, Empire State College) examines the overrepresentation of African American women in prisons. The plight of African American girls, disparities in the general population that affect these women, including poor education, intimate partner violence, drug addiction, and sexual abuse, making them vulnerable to pathways to criminal behavior are discussed. She describes the history of the development of the US criminal justice system; statistics on the overrepresentation of African American women in it; how young black women are drawn into criminal behavior; abuse in community and criminal justice settings; the criminal behavior of these women, including murders of their own children; their health status and the poor quality of care in prisons; the welfare of their children; regions that imprison the most women; execution of those on death row; and recommendations for improvement. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)