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The Challenges of Mentally Ill Female Offenders in Prison
Abstract
An increasing number of women offenders arrive in prison with serious mental health problems. Such inmates tend to experience difficulties negotiating the prison environment. They create all sorts of predicaments for other prisoners and instigate crisis situations that present pressing challenges to members of the staff. One prevalent form of symptomatic behavior in women's prisons is that of self-injury, which carries the risk of death or serious impairment. Self-harm should not be the sort of behavior that invites disciplinary dispositions. Mentally ill women also become involved in disproportionate serious rule breaking, including assaultive acts, leading to inappropriate placement in segregation cells, where their difficulties are apt to become exacerbated. To address this problem, special settings can be created to accommodate some chronically disturbed women, but these serve to merely ameliorate a seemingly insoluble dilemma.
... The outcomes of interest were intimate partner violence victimization (IPVV), current incidence of dissociation, psychosis, and posttraumatic stress, and substance misuse in the year prior to incarceration. These outcomes were chosen because they are associated with women's ix crime, increase the risk for suicide attempts and interpersonal conflict during custody, and have been linked to recidivism after release (DeHart, 2008(DeHart, , 2009Dowden & Brown, 2002;Lord, 2008;Wright et al., 2007;Zust, 2009). A cross-sectional survey design was used and all data was gathered via self-report during face-to-face interviews. ...
... Although evaluations of the incidence and prevalence of mental health issues like dissociation or psychosis among samples of incarcerated women were less common in the literature, disproportionate rates were reported when incarcerated women were compared to both incarcerated men and non-incarcerated women (Asberg & Renk, 2013;James & Glaze, 2006;Roe-Sepowitz, Pate, & Bedard, 2005;. Three specific mental health outcomes -dissociation, psychosis, and posttraumatic stress -were chosen for the focus of the current project because they are associated with women's crime (DeHart, 2008;), they increase the risk for inprison negative events (e.g., suicide attempts, interpersonal conflict; Lord, 2008;Wright, Salisbury, & Van Voorhis, 2007), and have been linked to recidivism after release (Dowden & Brown, 2002;Zust, 2009). A thorough critical review of each construct and the available empirical evidence linking experiences of CV to incidence of each issue follows in Chapter Two. ...
... Likewise, experiences of psychosis are also associated with behavior problems and fighting within the prison setting, leading to negative medical and mental health outcomes for affected women as well as behavior management challenges from a staffing perspective (Lord, 2008;Wright, Salisbury, & Van Voorhis, 2007). ...
... Moreover, Penitentiary Services in Indonesia are currently overcrowded and do not have a special treatment program for prisoners' mental health for life sentences while there is a positive relationship between distress and sentence periods with stressful conditions on inmates (Welta & Ivan, 2017). Elaine (2008) explained that more and more female perpetrators arrived in prisons with serious mental health problems, and they tended to experience difficulties in negotiating with the prison environment. The presence of pre-prison victimization, prison stress, and social support from family members all have a statistically significant effect on the adjustment of life in prison (Yu-Shu Chen, Yung-Lien Lai, Chien-Yang Lin, 2013). ...
... Prisoner's mental health depends on his resilience especially with unlimited periods of punishment. Contemporary research on individual differences unconditional self-acceptance shows that low unconditional self-acceptance harms individual well-being, even in some cases, can cause mental health problems and mental disorders (Elaine, 2008). Resilience can be realized when individuals have self-acceptance, namely the awareness of accepting oneself both positive and negative qualities and personal experiences. ...
Punishment while in prison places individuals in a limited environment and experiences pressure. Conditions of pressure can be felt even higher when inmates experience a life sentence. This study aims to explore the factors of the resilience of female prisoners with life sentences. Research using semi-structured interviews of five female inmates at the Women Correctional Institution, Malang punished with life imprisonment. Data were analyzed with a qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. The results of the study conclude that the factors that make female prisoners resilient to life sentences are self-acceptance and significant other.
... At the same time, significant cost and access barriers to mental health services exist in the general population, especially in low-and middle-income countries (Saxena, Thornicroft, Knapp, & Whiteford, 2007). What this inverse correlation suggests is that the criminal justice system may be assuming more responsibility for the mentally ill than the mental health system itself is, even as it is distressingly clear that the criminal justice system has neither the resources nor the services to fulfill this responsibility (Lord, 2008). ...
... Finding alternative settings for trauma-exposed inmates with mental illness would be the best solution to reducing retraumatization, although it is the most difficult option to implement. Because prisons operate within a deep system of authority, power, and control, they are often the worst place for women with mental health problems (Lord, 2008). One of the best preventive strategies for reducing mental illness in the correctional system is to increase access to mental health care outside of correctional centers. ...
Incarcerated women are a vulnerable and unique population of special concern to nurses as they have high rates of mental illness. In this article, the authors discuss how trauma exposure contributes to mental illness in incarcerated women through abuse, socioeconomic factors, and the prison environment, how this trauma exposure manifests in the inmate survivor, and the related implications for practice.
A history of trauma and victimization is related to complex mental health issues which affect the majority of justice-involved women. The correctional environment can exacerbate these issues.
Nursing implications include discussion of the trauma-informed care model. The authors recommend a model of trauma-informed care named "the 4 Es" that can guide nurses in preparing a trauma-informed correctional environment and discuss the importance of nurse-led policy change in finding alternatives to incarceration for women with mental illness.
© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
... Despite efforts by the CSC to treat and rehabilitate high need offenders, there seems to be an overall consensus in the academic literature that contemporary resources, programs and treatment given to these women is unsatisfactory (Brewer et. al., 1998;Ferszt, 2009;Lord, 2008;Meztner, 1997;OCI, 2008;Ross, 1988;Tien, 1993). The lack of adequate resources, such as treatment, discussion groups, therapy and medication, undoubtedly contributes to extremely detrimental consequences for these women (Lord, 2008 Ontario, to design, manage and coordinate the mental health system in the province, in order to close gaps in current services (MHCC, 2010). ...
... al., 1998;Ferszt, 2009;Lord, 2008;Meztner, 1997;OCI, 2008;Ross, 1988;Tien, 1993). The lack of adequate resources, such as treatment, discussion groups, therapy and medication, undoubtedly contributes to extremely detrimental consequences for these women (Lord, 2008 Ontario, to design, manage and coordinate the mental health system in the province, in order to close gaps in current services (MHCC, 2010). Kirby notes that one of the most challenging and time consuming mental health disorders to treat is extremely common amongst incarcerated women is Borderline Personality Disorder. ...
... Empirical research suggests that women with severe mental health challenges are involved disproportionately in serious institutional infractions, including violence, and represent a continuous challenge to institutional management and control, and to both staff and clients' safety and well-being (Lord, 2008). Additionally, punitive measures in correctional settings may undermine therapeutic effects of correctional programming. ...
This study quantitatively summarizes existing empirical research on the relationship between specific mental disorders and recidivism among justice-impacted women using meta-analysis. Eighteen studies were included following a comprehensive literature search. Results indicated that depression, PTSD, psychiatric history, and presence of any mental disorder (relative to no mental disorder) were independently and significantly associated with small increases in recidivism rates. Anxiety, psychosis-related and unspecified personality disorders, and self-harm/suicidality were not significantly related to recidivism. Findings support the gender-responsive position that some mental disorders are criminogenic and correctional practice should be guided by holistic, mental health-and trauma-informed approaches.
... Being deprived of fulfilling their role as nurturers to their children causes stress among incarcerated female offenders who are mothers, and thus negatively affects their adjustment (Claire, 2017;Loper et al., 2009). The maladjustment of offenders with higher levels of stress may also manifest as correctional misconduct and violence (Houck & Loper, 2002;Jordaan & Hesselink, 2022;Lord, 2008;Steyn & Hall, 2015). ...
Incarceration is a challenging and stressful experience that requires offenders to alter their previous functioning and adjust to the correctional environment. Incarcerated female offenders who experience adjustment difficulties in the correctional environment tend to experience increased mental and physical health concerns. Therefore, investigating the possible predictor variables of correctional adjustment among incarcerated female offenders within the South African context is important. This study employed a quantitative research approach on a sample of 123 female offenders. The data were collected using questionnaires, and the findings indicated that the combination of some variables (Significant Other and Seeking Social Support) predicted Internal Adjustment, (Stress and Family) predicted External Adjustment, and (Stress and Significant Other) predicted Physical Adjustment of the female offenders. The results of this study could inform the development of correctional programmes centred on the unique treatment needs of incarcerated female offenders to assist offenders with adjusting to the correctional environment.
... These characteristics found in different studies, highlight the need for more genderresponsive approaches in violence risk assessment (de Vogel et al., 2019), in forensic treatment programs by addressing trauma, self-esteem and parenting skills (Bartlett et al., 2014;Long et al., 2008) and in breaking the intergenerational cycle of violence (Kim et al., 2009;Moretti et al., 2014). Additionally, practitioners indicate that supporting and treating women is harder compared to males because it is considered more time-consuming and emotionally draining (Lord, 2008;Walker et al., 2017). It has also been repeatedly shown that female forensic psychiatric patients cause at least as many violent incidents during their treatment as their male counterparts (Nicholls et al., 2009;Verstegen et al., 2020). ...
Purpose
Despite the rising number of females in forensic psychiatry, research about their characteristics remains limited and is currently lacking in Belgium. Optimizing knowledge about the characteristics of these women will lead to a better understanding of this specific group. Therefore, the aim of the study was to gain insight into the characteristics of female forensic psychiatric patients in Flanders, Belgium.
Design/methodology/approach
A case file study was carried out in the forensic psychiatric hospital Sint-Jan-Baptist in Zelzate, Belgium. The files of female patients admitted in the period 2006–2017 were analysed (N = 82) based on a checklist including sociodemographic, mental health care and offence-related characteristics as well as historical risk factors.
Findings
The study revealed that female patients have been confronted with a large number of adverse experiences during both childhood and adulthood, were frequently diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and usually had an extensive mental health treatment history with many drop-outs. The majority of the female patients had committed violent offences towards relatives.
Practical implications
These findings are similar to those of other jurisdictions and highlight the importance of a gender-responsive treatment. This kind of treatment should include trauma-informed care, gender-sensitive risk-assessment and adapted versions of dialectical behavioural therapy and schema-focussed therapy. Additionally, treatment should focus on breaking the intergenerational transmission of violence and mental health problems by targeting parenting skills.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that scientifically scrutinized the detailed characteristics of female forensic psychiatric patients in Flanders, Belgium. Recommendations for gender-responsive treatment and directions for future research are discussed.
... It is unclear from previous studies how a range of other institutional factors such as participation in structured activities or idleness influence inmates' perception of readiness for release. Nevertheless, it has been recognized that institution-sponsored programs are intended to enhance reentry by promoting responsibility, skills, and self-worth (Flanagan, 1981;Wunder, 1995) and that female inmates regard programs that teach life skills as important for their desistance and reintegration (Lord, 2008;Sexton, 2012). Finally, the largely qualitative previous research has been unable to separate the role of prerelease cognitions from possible confounding factors such as age, family background, or criminal history. ...
The literature suggests that individual characteristics of offenders are related to cognitive patterns before their release from prison. Empirical evidence shows that such cognitions can influence the extent to which offenders take an active role in rehabilitation. Given that many studies upon which these conclusions are made are dated, qualitative, or use bivariate analyses, it is unclear how salient, strong, and significant these associations are. Therefore, the aim of this exploratory study is to identify the factors that are associated with two prelease cognitions, future orientation and readiness for release, and to investigate whether future orientation is associated with greater involvement in structured activities. This study uses survey data collected from a sample of 503 people incarcerated in medium-security prisons in South Carolina in the United States. Ordered logistic regression models reveal that idleness, marital status, and drug dependence are associated with future orientation, while idleness, engagement in work and education, age, marital status, sentence phase, and mental health issues are related to readiness for release. Negative binomial regression shows that future orientation is associated with more extensive involvement in structured activities. Overall, the study concludes that while inmates are generally future-oriented, they are less confident that they are prepared for release from prison. The limitations of this study, including low scale reliabilities for key variables and a substantial amount of missing data, are also discussed.
... Inmates with mental illness, on the other hand, have lower counts of visits, phone calls, physical activity, and work hours, and higher counts of cell time hours. Mentally ill inmates are less likely to participate in productive and goal-oriented, as well as group activities, either because of the effects of the medication hinder alertness and focus or they avoid such participation due to the stigma associated with mental illness (Corrigan 2004;Lord 2008;Vuk 2017). Additionally, individuals who commit crimes due to their mental illness may lack social support in the first place which could explain why they have fewer contacts with the outside world (Hiday 1995). ...
A growing body of literature explores how participation in programming in correctional institutions predicts inmate misconduct. Theory and extant research suggest that engagement in structured and prosocial activities promotes positive behavioral and emotional outcomes, while idleness has a negative impact on inmate behavior and well-being. However, the literature that examines these relationships is largely based on qualitative methodology, small samples, and prison population. Using data from the 2002 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails, this study fills the gap in the literature by examining the associations between engagement in various activities in jail and inmate misconduct. This study also explores individual and jail-level factors that predict inmate engagement indifferent activities in jails. The results show that watching TV and working in jail are associated with lower misconduct, whereas recreation and reading are
associated with higher levels of several types of misconduct. The data also reveal that certain personal and institution-level factors predict the extent of engagement in formal and leisure activities.
... Inmates with mental illness, on the other hand, have lower counts of visits, phone calls, physical activity, and work hours, and higher counts of cell time hours. Mentally ill inmates are less likely to participate in productive and goal-oriented, as well as group activities, either because of the effects of the medication hinder alertness and focus or they avoid such participation due to the stigma associated with mental illness (Corrigan 2004;Lord 2008;Vuk 2017). Additionally, individuals who commit crimes due to their mental illness may lack social support in the first place which could explain why they have fewer contacts with the outside world (Hiday 1995). ...
A growing body of literature explores how participation in programming in correctional institutions predicts inmate misconduct. Theory and extant research suggest that engagement in structured and prosocial activities promotes positive behavioral and emotional outcomes, while idleness has a negative impact on inmate behavior and well-being. However, the literature that examines these relationships is largely based on qualitative methodology, small samples, and prison population. Using data from the 2002 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails, this study fills the gap in the literature by examining the associations between engagement in various activities in jail and inmate misconduct. This study also explores individual and jail-level factors that predict inmate engagement in different activities in jails. The results show that watching TV and working in jail are associated with lower misconduct, whereas recreation and reading are associated with higher levels of several types of misconduct. The data also reveal that certain personal and institution-level factors predict the extent of engagement in formal and leisure activities.
... Forensic psychiatric services are high-cost, low-volume services; in total, forensic care consumes £1.2 billion per annum, 1% of the entire budget of the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Wales (Rutherford & Duggan, 2007). The markedly rigid, restrictive structure of the secure and forensic system is recognised as detrimental to rehabilitation, constraining the development of autonomy and social skills necessary for effective recovery (Lord, 2008;Völlm, Bartlett, & McDonald, 2016). The inefficiencies of forensic psychiatric services make it very difficult for patients to transfer to potentially less restrictive, settings, and length of stays forensic psychiatric settings far exceed those in general psychiatric services (Sharma, Dunn, O'Toole, & Kennedy, 2015). ...
In England and Wales, secure and forensic psychiatric institutions provide a high-cost, low-volume service that imposes significant restrictions upon detainees. Patients may be detained under the Mental Health Act in such settings for several years or even life, as they are deemed to present a significant risk to themselves or the public. Patients under s37/41 require the Home Office to approve any increase in their freedom. Best practice requires reoffending risk to be assessed before a patient is discharged. Evaluation of risk is an inexact actuarial science operating in a political arena, and research has indicated risk assessment tools have little positive predictive validity. There is concern amongst the wider psychiatric and judicial communities about the ethics of current practice. We examine these issues and consider means of improving risk assessment through red-teaming, increased collaboration between clinician and patient and a paradigm shift towards greater emphasis on patient self-agency.
... Self-harm behaviors were estimated between 2% to 4% for offenders in the general population, while offenders with mental health disorders, had estimates of 15% selfharm behaviors (Applebaum, Savageau, Trestman, Metzner, & Baillargeon, 2011;Smith & Kaminski, 2011). Department of Justice (DOJ) researchers found that 12% of female offenders self-reported self-harm behaviors (Lord, 2008). This pilot study had similar results to these national estimates with 10% of female offender participants who self-reported self-harm behaviors in this sample. ...
... Substance abuse is a "gender-responsive" factor in that it is more common among female offenders relative to male offenders, and it often affects women differently (Gavazzi, Yarcheck, & Chesney-Lind, 2006). This discussion of recent histories of drug abuse among female inmates parallels Lord's (2008) discussion of mentally ill female inmates. These women are more apt to act out during confinement due to an inability to fully acclimate in general population. ...
The literature on differences in the carceral experiences of women and men underscores the relevance of both background (pre-prison) and confinement factors for shaping inmates' experiences during incarceration, but with a heavier emphasis on linkages between background factors and problems women face during confinement. Here, we apply these ideas to an understanding of sex differences in factors influencing victimization risk during incarceration. Sex-specific models of physical assaults and property thefts were estimated for random samples of inmates from 46 prisons in Ohio and Kentucky. Background factors were more important than confinement factors for influencing assaults on women whereas both sets of factors were relevant for men. Both background and confinement factors were important for predicting theft victimizations for both groups although the magnitude of several effects varied by an inmate's sex. Findings suggest that effective crime prevention strategies in prison may vary across facilities for women and for men.
... A large percentage of offenders are diagnosed with specific mental disorders (Adams & Ferrandino, 2008;Soderstrom, 2007), with 10-15% of offenders being diagnosed as severely mentally ill (Roskes, 1999;Lamb & Weinberger, 1998). This population can pose both administrative and therapeutic challenges (Lord, 2008). These offenders benefit from a variety of therapeutic approaches. ...
Virtual reality systems are used to achieve a broad range of goals in a variety of fields of study. The criminal justice system can benefit from this rapidly expanding technology in three specific ways. First, the issues of experimental control and problematic research methodologies can be addressed. Second, both practitioners and offenders can benefit from training within virtual environments. Third, rehabilitation efforts can be improved by providing offenders a safe and controlled environment for treatment. With dwindling resources and increasing correctional populations, virtual reality offers cost-efficient and effective means of addressing the diverse needs of the criminal justice system.
... Incarcerated women who report serious mental health issues are more likely to report CV, to have been homeless in the year prior to incarceration, and to have a chronic history of criminal involvement (more than three prior sentences; Asberg & Renk, 2013;DeHart, 2008;James & Glaze, 2006;Wright, Salisbury, & Van Voorhis, 2007). These mental health issues increase the risk for negative events within the prison milieu (e.g., suicide attempts, interpersonal conflict; Lord, 2008;Wright et al., 2007) and have been linked to increased rates of recidivism (e.g., rearrest, reincarceration) after release (Dowden & Brown, 2002;Zust, 2009). In addition, substance misuse presents a unique challenge to the criminal justice system, as incarcerated women are 2 KENNEDY ET AL. ...
The current study uses the dose–response model to examine the relationships between childhood victimization events and subsequent depression, symptoms of psychosis, and substance misuse in a sample of 230 randomly selected incarcerated women in the United States. Results on the frequency of victimization were mixed. In this sample, both frequency of physical abuse and frequency of sexual abuse significantly predicted current symptoms of psychosis, but only frequency of physical abuse significantly predicted substance misuse. Incarcerated women who experienced multivictimization were 5.7 times as likely to report depression, 4.2 times as likely to report current symptoms of psychosis, and 3.8 times as likely to meet criteria for a substance use disorder. Results indicate that adjusting prison-based interventions to address multivictimization may improve outcomes and reduce recidivism among this population. 2015
... Substance abuse is a "gender-responsive" factor in that it is more common among female offenders relative to male offenders, and it often affects women differently (Gavazzi, Yarcheck, & Chesney-Lind, 2006). This discussion of recent histories of drug abuse among female inmates parallels Lord's (2008) discussion of mentally ill female inmates. These women are more apt to act out during confinement due to an inability to fully acclimate in general population. ...
The literature on differences in the carceral experiences of women and men underscores the relevance of both background (pre-prison) and confinement factors for shaping inmates’ experiences during incarceration, but with a heavier emphasis on linkages between background factors and problems women face during confinement. Here, we apply these ideas to an understanding of sex differences in factors influencing victimization risk during incarceration. Sex-specific models of physical assaults and property thefts were estimated for random samples of inmates from 46 prisons in Ohio and Kentucky. Background factors were more important than confinement factors for influencing assaults on women whereas both sets of factors were relevant for men. Both background and confinement factors were important for predicting theft victimizations for both groups although the magnitude of several effects varied by an inmate’s sex. Findings suggest that effective crime prevention strategies in prison may vary across facilities for women and for men.
... Sex was not related to misconduct, but female inmates were more likely to report experiencing a greater number of mental health problems than male inmates. Researchers have observed a greater prevalence of mental illness and more pronounced effects of mental illness among female offenders compared with males (see, for example, James & Glaze, 2006;Lord, 2008;Morash & Schram, 2002). Involvement in a greater number of hours at a facility work assignment contributed to better adjustment. ...
Offenders are exposed to violence at higher rates than the general population. Yet little is known about whether exposure to violence affects offenders’ adjustment to incarceration. Using a nationally representative sample of inmates housed in secure confinement facilities, we examine the relative effects of exposure to different types of violence prior to incarceration (e.g., physical assault, sexual assault, child abuse) on inmate maladjustment. Results indicate that exposure to violence prior to incarceration influences individuals’ odds of maladjustment during imprisonment, and that abuse as a child and physical victimization by a nonstranger as an adult are particularly robust predictors of maladjustment. Implications of these findings for future research and correctional practice are discussed.
... Among problems with the prison environment are policies that, though aimed at promoting control and security, may serve to retraumatize a victim of abuse. The finding that inmates with self-injurious behavior are put into segregation is consistent with the literature on women's prisons (Easteal 2001;Lord 2008 (Miller and Young 1997) rather than improvement. Thus, the segregation of an inmate after self-injuring can worsen symptoms and behavior, further harming an already distressed inmate. ...
The present study was an investigation into the needs of women in prison. The purpose was to explore women's rehabilitation needs and assess whether correctional programs and policies are promoting rehabilitation. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected for descriptive analysis. A total of 17 incarcerated women from a medium-security prison were surveyed; 11 of those inmates also agreed to be interviewed. Results indicated significant history of trauma as well as significant psychosocial deficits typically associated with trauma. Despite an apparent need for programming addressing trauma, qualitative interviews revealed a shortage of services addressing trauma victimization and institutional policies with the potential to further harm trauma survivors.
Purpose
Females and males travel different (i.e., gendered) paths into the criminal justice system and prison that are reflective of differences in socioeconomic status and degree of economic marginalization. Heretofore, assessments of the prison experience between the sexes have failed to account for differences in offense type (e.g., white-collar vs. non-white-collar) prior to incarceration—the effects of which could theoretically increase or decrease the likelihood of institutional maladjustment and reoffending.
Methods
We examine this possibility with a series of logistic regression models using a large sample of male and female offenders incarcerated for various white-collar and non-white-collar offenses in the Ohio state prison system.
Results
With few exceptions, we observed more similarities than differences between female and male white-collar inmates across outcomes of interest (e.g., misconduct and recidivism), especially when compared to females and males incarcerated for other (i.e., non-white-collar) offenses.
Conclusions
Theoretical and practical implications are discussed and directions for future research are given, particularly as they relate to the gendered pathways and white-collar crime literature as well as offender classification.
The news has not been good for mental health training programs for police in Australia, Canada, the U.S., and the UK. Police training is seen as inadequate to prepare police officers to identify and deal with persons with a mental illness. This chapter describes one approach of writing a proposal to conduct a comparison of attitude-training programs with police cadets. The main aspects of writing a proposal are covered: the background, problem statement, hypothesis, and the design of the treatments for comparison. Isolating the main features of each treatment requires designing some instruction based on factors that can influence police attitude toward suspects with a mental illness. Contemporary design guidelines are recommended, which should be informed by the designer's personal assumptions about how people learn from multimedia.
Females are being incarcerated at a growing rate and present management and treatment challenges for correctional and security personnel. The sample included incarcerated women with self-harm histories (n = 35) who were randomly assigned to dialectical behavior therapy skills groups with or without animal-assistance. Pre- and post-test measures of self-harm and coping were obtained. There was a significant (p = .019) decrease in the instances of self-injury in the animal-assisted group. Additionally, the animal-assisted groups had significant (p < .05) decreases in three maladaptive coping strategies whereas the non-animal- assisted groups had a significant decrease (p < .05) in only one coping strategy. The animal-assisted groups also had much lower dropout rates and better attendance.
In today's culture, popular music is a vital site where ideas about gender and sexuality are imagined and disseminated. Popular Music and the Politics of Hope: Queer and Feminist Interventions explores what that means with a wide-ranging collection of chapters that consider the many ways in which contemporary pop music performances of gender and sexuality are politically engaged and even radical. With analyses rooted in feminist and queer thought, contributors explore music from different genres and locations, including Beyoncé's Lemonade, A Tribe Called Red's We Are the Halluci Nation, and celebrations of Vera Lynn's 100th Birthday. At a bleak moment in global politics, this collection focuses on the concept of critical hope: the chapters consider making and consuming popular music as activities that encourage individuals to imagine and work toward a better, more just world. Addressing race, class, aging, disability, and colonialism along with gender and sexuality, the authors articulate the diverse ways popular music can contribute to the collective political projects of queerness and feminism. With voices from senior and emerging scholars, this volume offers a snapshot of today's queer and feminist scholarship on popular music that is an essential read for students and scholars of music and cultural studies.
We examine a nationally representative sample of state inmates with co-occurring disorders (CODs) to consider their background, and ascertain whether inmate gender is related to their access to mental health and substance abuse treatment while serving their sentence. Women prisoners were significantly more likely to be given psychotropic medications, access mental health counseling, participate in clinical and non-clinical addictions treatment options, or in fact any type of mental health treatment or substance abuse options. Thus, the findings indicate that there are significant differences for male and female prisoners with CODs and their access to treatment while serving their sentences.
This edition of Introduction to Forensic Psychology has been completely restructured to map to how courses on forensic psychology are taught, and features more figures, tables, and text boxes, textbook pedagogy. Uniquely. this book offers equal representation of criminal behavior, the court systems, and law enforcement/prisons. It also has equal representation of criminal and civic forensics and of issues pertaining to adults and children. new coverage of emerging issues in forensic psychology expanded case illustrations and vignettes, practice and ethics updates, and international trends new "key issue" overviews, boldface terms and concepts, and chapter reviews expanded coverage of corrections for juveniles.
This exploratory study profiled behavioural characteristics of a non-random sample of 91 offenders with mental illness in a South African correctional facility. The sample is directly related to diagnosed cases from the correctional psychiatrist's case load. The most prevalent mental disorders diagnosed amongst the research participants of this sample specific profile were schizophrenia (33%), major depressive (27.5%), bipolar mood (12.1%) and psychotic disorders (11%).
The purpose of this study is to investigate the well-being of female inmates in Italian prisons. The hypothesis is that stress in women prisoners is strictly related both to “external” networks and “internal” support, and is more linked to the feeling of loneliness than to coping with the difficulties of prison life. Qualitative study involving adult female prisoners in the prisons of three Italian regions (Campania, Lazio, Emilia Romagna). 37 individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. The interviews were processed using the CAQDAS contents (Computer Assisted/Aided Qualitative Data Analysis Software) by the software Atlas.ti, to practice the Grounded Analysis method to attain the construction of categories and its relations. The interviews show multiple levels of reflection, crossbreeding mainly two plans: a situational one and a personal one. The main dimensions emerged are: the access to activities in prison (work, projects, sociality) experienced as a deterrent to depression and as an opportunity for the future reintegration into the “free” society; the motherhood, as a spur to a resilience, but also in reference to the difficulties associated with the conditions of segregation. The main theme that crossed all the conversations is the loneliness lived as a prison disease. More attention should be given to the re-socialization aspect of prisons, constructing new ways to guarantee the prisoners a valid alternative to deviant behaviours so as to help restore family relationships and the reintegration in society.
In Louisiana, women make up 6.7 percent of the total inmate population. Of the 2,680 women serving time in the state, 1,076 are housed at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women (LCIW), fifteen miles south of Baton Rouge in the town of St. Gabriel. The remainder of the female prisoner population is scattered across the state in local parish jails. LCIW is the only state facility for women, housing women of all custody levels including two on death row. To assume that the prisoners at LCIW are like the men at the other eleven state prisons would be to miss important aspects of how we incarcerate women. By extension, we would also miss important aspects about how music is practiced and valued there.
Speaking only generally to these differences, there are fewer musical opportunities for imprisoned women. At Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, the men’s prison next door, inmates form bands, rehearse, perform yard shows, and teach each other to play instruments. At LCIW, there is only one sponsored church choir. There are a few guitars and a keyboard used for church services but the administration does not create opportunities for teaching instruments, citing a lack of funding, space, and available personnel needed for supervision. One woman can play the guitar. Despite these obstacles, music is everywhere on the compound—on the yard, the line crews in the fields, the landscaping crews, in the garment factory, in the dorms, and in the lockdown cells. Most of the music making at LCIW consists of singing and rapping.
These women bring few resources with them to prison, but music as a practice, a skill, and a means for negotiating relationships with others becomes a critical tool for many. This article will show that music can provide opportunities for gaining a sense of the self (the personal), managing social relationships (the private), and making meaningful sense of the population there (the polis). An examination of musical experiences in the prison choir and, in some cases, outside of the choir illuminates many of the issues found “in population”—where the women have relative freedom to interact but little freedom from interaction. Throughout, I will show how these issues are particular to women prisoners.
I visited three Louisiana prisons between April 2008 and April 2012 for my documentary film about music in those prisons. During those visits I was able to collect six hours of uncut video footage and an additional five hours of audio recording at LCIW, including twenty-four interviews with inmates and staff. The interviews focus on prison experiences, musical experiences, and ways that the two intersect. The video footage also documents musical performances and the daily lives of the women at LCIW. The majority of inmates represented in my research are involved with the LCIW Choir, the only official musical group on the compound. Through choir members and correctional officers, I met a number of other women who sing on their own or in informal groups. Prison staff was present for less than a third of the recordings.
There is a double invisibility of women in prison, both of reality and representation. Images of prison are prevalent in our media to the point of trope. These depictions are often markedly different from reality, obscuring the actual experience of the more than 2.2 million Americans who are currently incarcerated. What doubles women’s invisibility is that most media images are of men—to the degree that when we think of a prisoner, he is male. In reality, over 200,000 women are in US prisons or jails. Due in part to this relatively small number, prison scholarship and prison policies also primarily focus on male inmates.
The analysis that runs throughout this article incorporates detailed attention to gender. It is helpful, however, to take a moment to understand general issues related to female incarceration. Unique critical issues emerge when considering female inmates. We must consider gender at two levels: first, how female prisoners experience prison as women, and second, how women’s prisons operate distinctly from men’s prisons. These differences have bearing on the ways in which music is practiced...
Purpose – People who self-injure present a serious concern for many healthcare providers and no more so than for those working in the female prison estate. Despite the prevalence of self-injury and recent policy highlighting the need for staff training, misunderstanding and misinterpretation of self-injury is rife within the healthcare professions often demonstrated by poor levels of service and care. This paper seeks to describe the development of a self-injury training package for prison staff, through service user involvement, in order to address such deficits in care. Design/methodology/approach – A participatory mixed methodological design engaged both staff and women in prison. Women offenders were involved in the development of training drawing upon their unique experiential expertise. Findings – In total, 43 per cent of staff working directly with women recognised the need to develop their understanding of, and skills to manage, self-injury. Key messages women wanted to convey to staff included how to communicate effectively and demonstrate empathy. Research limitations/implications – Service user involvement in the training of staff is achievable in a prison environment. Women and prison staff identify the need for on-going training in relation to the management of self-injury. Limitations of the sampling strategies are acknowledged but not considered significant. Practical implications – The authors assert that service user involvement is crucial in the development of meaningful training in the management of self-injury. Social implications – The involvement of service users in prison staff training empowers those involved and may foster improved prisoner-staff relationships. Originality/value – Service user involvement in prison staff training has no precedent in the UK.
The 2004 guidelines published by the (UK) National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommend the use of harm-reduction for people who hurt themselves (self-injure) in primary and secondary health care settings. Nonetheless, harm-reduction is not widely understood or implemented and prevention remains the primary approach of most health care providers. In this article I draw on the experiences of my research participants to explore the ways in which prevention policies not only fail to prevent self-injury but also to meet the basic care and support needs of individuals who hurt themselves. Indeed, confusion around the meaning and purpose of self-injury, and consequently service-provider anxiety, is often at root of prevention policies. I explore self-injury from the perspective of those who experience it and outline some of the basic principles of harm-reduction. I demonstrate that harm-reduction has both physical and emotional benefits and offers practical, meaningful, and constructive responses to those who self-injure.
Unlabelled:
Two groups now constitute the fastest growing segment of the U.S. prison population: women and persons with mental illness. Few large-scale studies have explored associations among serious mental illness (SMI), gender, and recidivism, or compared factors such as illness severity and clinical history as these construct notably different situations for incarcerated women and men. We report on our recent study comparing prison recidivism rates, severity of mental illness, and clinical history for women and men released from Utah State Prison 1998-2002.
Implications:
While women generally have better recidivism outcomes than men, we find that SMI related factors have a greater negative effect on the trajectories of women in this sample as compared with the men. This suggests that programs and policies focused on the SMI-specific risks and needs of women could significantly reduce prison recidivism and increase community tenure for this group, with far-reaching effects for families and communities.
Discussed in this Brief: Results of an NIJ-sponsored survey of State- level correctional administrators, prison and jail administrators, and program administrators to deter- mine the special needs of incarcer- ated women in the areas of management, screening, assess- ment, and programming. The sur- vey also sought information on innovative correctional program- ming for women and specific program elements conducive to success. Key issues: Women offenders have needs different from those of men, stemming in part from their disproportionate victimization from sexual or physical abuse and their responsibility for children. They are also more likely to be addicted to drugs and to have mental illnesses. Many States and jail jurisdictions, particularly those with small female offender populations, have little special provision, either in manage- ment or programming, for meeting the needs of women. Key findings: Survey respondents
Studies 49 incarcerated women to examine the complex relationship among women's criminal history, victimization, relational supports, personal strengths and their mental health. A cluster analysis produced four typologies shaping recommendations for assessment and treatment. Findings suggest that women with the greatest mental health needs have the greatest childhood violence risk, greatest proclivity for violent crime and the weakest social supports. (Contains 58 references and 3 tables.) (GCP)
Incarcerated women have substantial mental health needs that are often unrecognized, misidentified, and inadequately treated. This study of 49 incarcerated women examines the complex relationships among women's criminal history, victimization, relational supports, personal strengths and their mental health. Intensive interviews were conducted with sentenced women volunteers. A cluster analysis produced four typologies that shape recommendations for assessment and treatment (with the “types” labeled, respectively, “spirited,” “inured,” “troubled” and “volatile”). Findings suggest that women with the greatest mental health needs have the greatest childhood violence risk, greatest proclivity for violent crime and the weakest social supports.
U.S.: Number of mentally ill in prisons quadrupled
Human Rights Watch. (2006). U.S.: Number of mentally ill in prisons quadrupled. Retrieved October 16, 2007, from
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/09/09/usdom14137_txt.htm
Baseline psychopathology in a women's prison: Its impact on institutional adjustment and risk (198621) Unpublished manuscript, electronically available from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service
- J I Warren
Warren, J. I. (2003). Baseline psychopathology in a women's prison: Its impact on institutional adjustment and risk (198621).
Unpublished manuscript, electronically available from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service.
Pastel fascism: Reflections of social control techniques used with women in prison
- B H Zaitzow
Zaitzow, B. H. (2004). Pastel fascism: Reflections of social control techniques used with women in prison. Women's Studies
Quarterly, 32(3-4), 33-48.
Gender responsive strategies: Theory, policy, guiding principles and practices
- B Bloom
- B Owen
- S Covington
Bloom, B., Owen, B., & Covington, S. (2006). Gender responsive strategies: Theory, policy, guiding principles and practices.
In R. Immarigeon (Ed.), Women and girls in the criminal justice system: Policy issues and practice strategies (pp. 29.1-29.20).
Is there a prescription for the mentally ill and prisons? Psychiatric Times
- R Sherer
Sherer, R. (2006, February). Is there a prescription for the mentally ill and prisons? Psychiatric Times, 23(2), 68-71.
- Langley V
- D N Coughlins
Langley v. Coughlin (84 Civ. 5431, LBS), 1989 WL 436675 (S.D.N.Y. June 19, 1989).