This article presents the criminological characteristics of women sentenced to imprisonment. The analysis is based on such criteria as socio-demographic, criminal law, moral and psychological. The author identifies a number of negative features that define the portrait of a woman sentenced to imprisonment and create difficulties for her resocialization and successful reintegration into society. The described parameters indicate that today there is a need to review existing approaches to the organization and implementation of work in women's correctional institutions. In this regard, the study identifies priority areas for the prevention of repeat crime in this category of persons.