Maine Women's Re-Entry Center Case Summary

For numerous years, prison officials applied the same type of treatment for men and women. In the last decade with the increasing number of women incarcerated, research shows that women have different physical and emotional needs. For example, women are more attached to their children that they are leaving behind, and some have histories of physical and mental abuse. The creation of two programs, Key Crest and Forever Free were created to help with women specific issues. Recent studies done by National Institute of Justice studies found that participants in these two programs stayed drug and arrest free for over three years. Participants were tested and interviewed once a year for three years. The studies also showed that the programs provided aftercare and treatment in areas that were not addressed in previous years. Even though both varied in their approach, they both recognized the many ways there were to treat the needs of women and how they differ from men. The studies also show that gender specific programs do help inmates reenter into society.

Messina and Grella (2007) found that greater exposure to childhood trauma contributes to a higher prevalence of mental illness within the population of incarcerated women. Not only does the lack of mental health treatment in correctional facilities affect incarcerated women, there are also long term consequences to community health and recidivism rates (Messina & Grella, 2007).

It is no secret that the United States’ criminal justice system is majorly flawed in more ways than one. We hear of all of the injustice that many civilians face on a day to day basis, which mostly surrounds the problems related to men, but what about women? Why don’t we hear about the tribulations and sufferings that our women undergo on a day to day basis within our criminal justice system? As mentioned in an article from the American Jail Association, investigation in fields ranging from subjects of general and mental health, substance abuse and addiction relating to drugs and prescriptions, and physical violence against women combined with examination and practice in the criminal justice field, have discovered that women offenders experience challenges that are not only different from their male counterparts, but also greatly influence their involvement in criminal justice systems, including jails and prisons (Ney, 2014). This information alone provides a basis to why imprisoned women should be more of a topic. This literature review will examine the several ways in which women who are incarcerated experience emotional trauma; and in some ways, abuse. My hypothesis is that most of the trauma encountered by incarcerated women majorly branches from preceding events and occurrences that happened prior to becoming imprisoned, and that they worsen as a result of improper treatment and resources within

Due to the vast amount of women who encounter mental health and substance abuse related problems, it is something that should be considered and looked at more seriously. Mignon (2016) indicated that failing to address these issues of neglecting mental health and substance abuse afflictions of imprisoned women will result in the problems continuing following their release and could have disadvantageous effects on their lives such as joblessness, homelessness, and the potential for loss of custody of children. Priority in health for women in prisons are usually dependent on their sentencing, as in if a woman is given a life sentence, her health needs aren’t necessarily a priority in comparison to women with shorter and lesser sentences. Mignon (2016) discovered that substance abuse is a serious issue for women in correctional facilities, and that even though trauma and addition are intertwined, they are usually treated as separate complications. Mignon (2016) also mentioned that poor health and mental health services should be of special concern when it comes to elderly women in prison.

the unique circumstances for female offenders are that, there are six institutions for female offenders across the country, including a healing lodge. All these six institutions apart from the healing lodge have sub divisions of different levels such as minimum, medium, and maximum security for female offenders. Healing lodges only accommodate women who are known to be minimum or medium security level. Women classified as minimum and medium security level are given the chance to live in a housing facility within community living areas, where these women are responsible for their daily needs in live such as doing the laundry, cooking as well as cleaning. Women known to be as medium or minimum security level who suffer mental health issues,

In the past 20 years, women inmates have been one of the fastest growing prison populations in the United States. Women inmates represent a myriad of voices that speak to poverty-stricken lives, histories of abuse, separations of mother and child, struggles with substance abuse, health issues, and economic hardships. Women’s prisons have increasingly become a source of intrigue and controversy, particularly through the broadcasting of a number of television documentaries, such as Orange Is the New Black. This explores all the issues and concerns regarding female inmates. Many times women in prison are overlooked, as the prison problems that receive media attention occur primarily at male institutions.

This article introduces historical accounts and analysis of programs for incarcerated mothers and their children in the United States (Susan C. Craig, 2009).

With nearly 2/3 of the female prison population at the state level having dependent children (The Sentencing Project, 2007), it seems reasonable that prison and social policymakers would be forced to recognize the special needs of this demographic. However, this is not the case. When state child welfare agencies were canvassed about special programs for these children, only 16% responded in the affirmative. Close to 10% of incarcerated women have children living in foster care and the vast majority of parents are being held at locations more than 100 miles away. The distance is over 500 miles for 43% of

Prisons were historically a male focused institution; correctional facilities often fail to address the needs of incarcerated women. The importance of a women’s prison institution is the way the mothering system needs to be done. Of the women in the correctional system, a majority of them are between the ages of 24 and 35(Staretschi & Vaughn, 2010). There are mothers in prison who have children with a family member, friend, or foster care. Other

According to Yamatiani and Spieldnes (2011) the biggest issues faced by women exiting incarceration were stable housing and long-term, legal employment. It was also noted that women suffer from issues such as sexual trauma and problems connecting with their children more often than their male counterparts (Bloom, Owen,

A large number of incarcerated women report high rates of abuse, including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse (Wolff, Frueh, Shi, Schumann, 2012). This writer recently started to conduct individual substance abuse counseling to women incarcerated at the Hendry County Jail. During the time of speaking to these women, a common factor has arisen, that is the fact that most of these women have been involved in some sort of domestic violence. Although there are women’s jail groups available throughout the country, there are not enough of these groups that focus on battered women. This writer proposes to incorporate a battered women’s in jail group that will focus on helping those women who are incarcerated and who have been involved in domestic violence throughout their lifetime.

The documentary film provided for this assignment focused on the Wayne County Correction System located in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit has been characterized as a city under siege. The city is notoriously known for having one of the highest homicide rates, rapid street crimes, and prison system filled with citizens. In the film, the psychoanalyst emphasized that Wayne County Jail is targeting female offenders that are recidivist, full of rage, and simply out of control. The correction system is perceived to be the “last hope” for many of the female offenders because their life of criminality could lead to life long prison sentences or even worse death. Many of the women are in the film have been convicted of robberies, drug trafficking, prostitution,

For many incarcerated mothers, many of their children are also left behind due to their imprisonment. Many children face finical struggles due to their mother being in prison and some may even be placed under the state and placed in foster care. Women are denied authority and power of their own children’s well beings which can lead to juvenile delinquency, failing grades, and even sexual abuse. Parenting classes, employment training, counseling, and other alternative treatment options may not only help lower recidivism rates but may also help strengthen families and communities.

According to statistics on incarceration and families, more than 8.3 million children have one or both parents who are in jail, prison, on parole or probation. Additionally, 62% of women in state prisons and 84% in federal prison are mothers. Not only are these women affected by their incarceration but also their families. These women enter the prison system with disorders such as trauma, substance abuse, and poverty etc. The NIC reported that many of these women suffer from Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although these women try their best to maintain relationships with their children often it does not save them from a stressful life. These children become victims of the lifestyle their forced into. They show signs of depression, anxiety,

The advocacy service selected for this assignment was REAL Crisis Intervention. During my interview with Real Crisis Intervention I spoke to Jess at the office in Greenville NC and Nadine at the office in Washing NC. The program was founded in the 1970’s and was been around ever since serving individuals in the community with crisis; the most common, victim’s of sexual assault.