NCJ Number
184542
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 31 Issue: 3/4 Dated: 2000 Pages: 17-27
Date Published
2000
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article presents the story of the re-traumatization of an Hispanic female inmate and offers suggestions for practice and research related to traumatized women inmates.
Abstract
"Maria's story" highlights several concerns for criminal justice practitioners, from both a policy and a treatment perspective. The policy concern pertains to social justice. The treatment concerns include the need to screen for the existence of prior traumatic events and the need to establish an atmosphere of safety between the inmate and the practitioner. Regarding policy, the public defender is to protect his/her client against systematic oppression and injustice. The public defender in Maria's case, however, failed to inform Maria that she was a victim of entrapment. Rather, he pressured her to plea bargain for a reduced sentence if she divulged other drug dealers. Perhaps the most obvious treatment implication is that practitioners need to screen for the existence and impact of prior traumatic events. Historically, practitioners have not been taught to associate symptoms of depression and anxiety with the presence of prior traumatic events. The second treatment implication pertains to the heightened need for safety among incarcerated women inmates. Research implications are discussed. 22 references