NCJ Number
224134
Journal
Journal of Forensic Nursing Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: 2008 Pages: 61-67
Date Published
2008
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Indepth interviews with two women (Maria and Sylvia) over a period of 4 months after their release from prison focused on their experiences as mothers since their release.
Abstract
In the initial interview, both women were happy to be out of prison and reunited with their children. They had a positive attitude about their daily life and their children, despite having difficulty meeting their children’s basic needs. Approximately 3 months into the interviewing, however, there was a change in the women’s attitudes. Maria was more negative about her relationship with her daughter. Apparently her return from prison had disrupted the lifestyle her mother had developed in caring for Maria’s daughter. In addition, her mother believed that Maria would eventually go back to her old ways and be imprisoned again. Maria canceled her appointments for a final interview. She eventually called the interviewer to report she was going back to prison for violating her parole by using heroin. She also indicated she was pregnant. Sylvia, in her later interviews, commented about the frustration of relying on church services to get food and clothing for her children. She hoped to get a job soon, because her children were starting to get on her nerves. When Sylvia failed to respond for her final interview, her mother indicated she had absconded from parole. She was 3 months pregnant at the time and told her mother she did not want to deliver her baby while in prison. She indicated to her mother she would turn herself in after the baby was born. This study’s findings are relevant to nurses involved in forensics, family practice, mental health, and community health. Nurses’ better understand of mothering after prison could lead to more effective interactions and interventions with this population. 52 references