Women Prisoners' Mental Health: Vulnerabilities, Risks and Resilience

• NCJ Number: 195602
• Journal: Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 34 Issue: 1 Dated: 2001 Pages: 25-44
• Author(s): Margaret E. Martin; Michie N. Hesselbrock
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study of 49 incarcerated women examined the complex relationships among women's criminal history, victimization, relational supports, personal strengths, and their mental health.

Abstract

The study used a convenience sample of sentenced women prisoners in a medium-maximum security women's prison in a northeastern State. Volunteers were recruited for intensive interviews that lasted from 5 to 8 hours and were generally completed during 2 days of interviews. Forty-nine interviews were completed. The women were interviewed by using standardized social-psychological instruments and questions designed for this study. At the completion of all interviews, a focus group was conducted with participants to inform them of preliminary results and seek their interpretations of the data. The study findings reinforce those of previous studies in determining that incarcerated women have often experienced highly risky periods of childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood and that these risks are associated with mental illnesses and crime. The analysis suggests a complex set of interrelationships among risk, vulnerability, and protective factors. The women who had experienced the highest degree of harmful home environments and maltreatment lacked parental and family supports; these were the women most likely to be mentally ill and violent. The women with the least risky childhood environments and the least childhood maltreatment, along with the most family support, had the lowest arrest rates, but were likely to be substance abusers. The study concludes that the mental health risk classifications systems that correctional systems use do not adequately capture the nature and seriousness of women's current psychiatric or substance abuse needs. There must be a greater effort to integrate psychiatric, substance abuse, and violence risk into an assessment system that reflects women's real experiences. Treatment opportunities must be expanded both within prison and the community, and better linkages should be provided between the two environments. 3 tables and 58 references