Incarcerated Mothers: Their Histories of Victimization and the Consequences for Their Children

1. Social Work Social Development 2012: Action and Impact Stockholm, Sweden – July 10, 2012 Incarcerated Mothers: Their Histories of Victimizationand the Consequences for Their Children Toni Johnson, Associate Professor tkjohns@ku.edu Margaret Severson, Professor mseverson@ku.edu School of Social Welfare

2. Personal, social & fiscal costs of violence to girls & women • Involvement with the criminal justice system • The effects of marriage & motherhood on women prisoners • Rehabilitation, treatment & reentry services are limited The Identified Problem

3. Aim of the Project For many incarcerated mothers reintegration into the community is complicated by past victimization, needs for trauma services, parental expectations & significant economic needs. Findings from two studies (one on incarcerated women & one on adolescent children of prisoners) are used to examine the complex web of need that emerges for many incarcerated women and their children.

4. Women in U.S. Prisons More women are incarcerated in the U.S. than in any other country in the world (Sabol, West, and Cooper, 2009) Account for 7+% of the inmate population, and rising (Harrison & Beck, 2006) Most are poor , unskilled, and undereducated Women of color disproportionately represented Many/most have histories of sexual and/or physical victimization as children and adults 60-80% are parents to minor children More likely than male prisoners to have had custody of their children prior to incarceration

5. Overview of the Children of Women Prisoners Children live more often with single or elderly women than with a parent Children more likely to go into the child welfare system than are children of male prisoners Many live in poor, urban areas Likely to be affected on the emotional, social, structural & economic levels Experience an accumulation of risk(e.g., crime ridden neighborhoods, parental alcohol/drug abuse, multiple changes in living arrangements) Many incarcerated mothers experience anguish & distress over their children and they have good reason for concern(Mumola, 2002)

6. Study 1: Examined the Experiences of Violence & Victimization of Incarcerated Women Mixed Methods; total n=423 157 Participants in this presentation sample 12 month data collection period Standardized measures used to collect information on childhood sexual & physical abuse, intimate partner violence & sexual assault in adulthood

7. Data Focus: Economic Supports Legal & illegal activities used to secure economic support. Examples of legal included selling handmade items, providing a service & receiving welfare. Examples of illegal included writing bad checks, selling illegal drugs & providing sex for money. Criminal Behavior Women were asked about the nature of the arrest(s) for up to 9 incidents. Arrests were categories into economic, drug related & violent crimes.

8. Findings Descriptive • Sample: single, married, partnered & women without children • Mean age 35 - those without children, slightly younger • Higher level of education associated with lower incidence of motherhood, but not with partnered status • Single mothers & unmarried mothers living with a partner were disproportionately African American

9. Study 1: Findings Economic Conditions • Most women worked prior to incarceration • Majority lived in poverty • Many held a 2nd or 3rd job to survive • Most were poor; 49.7% had an annual income < $10,000 • Many engaged in illegal activities to generate income(88%) • Single parenthood and/or living unmarried with a partner carries risk of economic hardship Victimization • Unmarried mothers who lived with partners prior to incarceration were most likely to have histories of multiple forms of victimization

10. Findings: What Would Have Helped? When Asked What Would Have Helped? • Job Training • Addiction treatment/mental health counseling • Legal help for domestic violence • Assistance with childcare

11. Study 2: Examined the Service Needs of Adolescent Children of Prisoners from the Youth Perspective • Concept mapping used to collect & analyze data from adolescent youth with a parent currently in prison • Involved youth at every stage of research from planning to analysis • Youth asked to identify social service needs and sort those needs in order of importance

12. Study 2: Research Participants

13. Study 2: Data Set • 47 Different Statements or concepts generated • (Examples of statements include: havestaff that really care, helps family with basic needs, helps youth find employment, & provides mentoring for youth) • Youth individually sorted the statements into groups and rated them in order of importance on scale from 1 (not at all important) to 5 (most important) • Hierarchical cluster analysis & multidimensional scaling used to analyze the sort data

14. Study 2: Data Clusters 47 statements clustered around 7 themes: • Special Needs • Staff Qualities • Health/Mental Health & Addiction Treatment • Advocacy/Community Education • Youth Development • Family Ties • Therapy /Support

15. Statements Form ClustersConcept Map Reflects Ratings of Importance(Each number represents a particular statement, cluster layers represent the importance of that cluster)

16. Study 2: Selected Findings • Clusters focused on “Staff Qualities” & “Special Needs”---including meeting the family’s needs • Many youth identified the strain caregivers experience in taking care of the youth • Youth were concerned about the incarcerated parent & their relationship • Want supports in place for incarcerated parents when returning to home & community • Individual statements focused on personal development & future orientation were highly rated

17. Viewed Together … Viewed together, these studies create a powerful picture of challenges faced by mother and child & the urgent need for services. Both Mothers & Adolescent Children: • Expressed concern about the welfare of the other • Encountered difficulty meeting basic needs • Were traumatized by the separation from children/parent • Desired access to counseling/mental health treatment

18. Implications for Action • Provide mechanisms that help prisoners & their children maintain family ties • This doesn’t necessarily equate to a children-in-prison approach • Provide concrete support (economic, social, practical) to caregivers of children during a parent’s incarceration • Establish strong reentry programs for the returning mother – with the “right” program goals and supports • Provide skill building parenting programs designed specifically for this population • Provide counseling & support for parent & child

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