Mothers in Prison: Coping With Separation From Children (From Women in Corrections: Staff and Clients, P 1-7, 2000, Australian Institute of Criminology -- See NCJ-187936)

• NCJ Number: 187975
• Author(s): Emma Stanley; Stuart Byrne
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Paper presented at the Women in Corrections: Staff and Clients Conference held in Adelaide, Australia, October 31-November 1, 2000. Downloaded March 21, 2001

Annotation

This paper reviews the literature on how mothers in prison cope with separation from children, with attention to Australian research findings.

Abstract

Much of the recent research has indicated that a considerable amount of distress among incarcerated women is a consequence of separation from family and children. Mothers in prison have reported feeling anger, anxiety, sadness, depression, shame, guilt, decreased self-esteem, and a sense of loss when separated from their children. The degree to which the incarcerated mother experiences these types of distress has implications for both the child's emotional development and the mother's mental health. Prison offers mothers an opportunity to work on distress levels and parenting skills if appropriate services are provided. Some researchers have found positive effects in mothers' level of coping when they become involved in parenting courses. Others argue against parental training in favor of quality contact and privacy with their children. Under this philosophy, programs such as the extended visits scheme, improving visitor processing and environments, and active involvement of family members in rehabilitation programs have been implemented in some prisons. Research into the needs of incarcerated mothers and how prisons can manage their issues would assist in the appropriate allocation of scarce services and resources. 30 references