Accessing an Understudied Population in Behavioral HIV/AIDS Research:

Journal of Sex Research

Grinstead

McCartney

et al. 2005

In an effort to deepen our understanding of how circumstances of forced separation and the interdiction of physical contact affect women's sexual behavior, we investigated the development and maintenance of heterosexual couples' intimacy when the male partner is incarcerated. As HIV-prevention scientists who work with women visiting men at a California state prison, we recognize that correctional control extends to these women's bodies, both when they are within the facility's walls visiting their mates and when they are at home striving to remain connected to absent men. This paper analyzes the impact of a peculiar public "place", a penitentiary, on couples' romantic and sexual interactions, drawing out the implications of imprisonment for relationship decision making, sexual health, and HIV risk. Using qualitative interviews with 20 women who visit their incarcerated partners and 13 correctional officers who interact with prison visitors, we examined how institutional constraints such as the regulation of women's apparel, the prohibition of physical contact, and the lack of forums for privacy result in couples forging alternative "spaces" in which their relationships occur. We describe how romantic scripts, the build-up of sexual tension during the incarceration period, and conditions of parole promote unprotected sexual intercourse and other HIV/STD risk behavior following release from prison.

mentioning

confidence: 70%

“You can't do nothing in this damn place”: Sex and intimacy among couples with an incarcerated male partner

Journal of Sex Research

Grinstead

McCartney

et al. 2005

“…Although the prevalence of women with incarcerated partners has not been systematically documented, 7 percent of the 4,349 female respondents in the National Sexual Health Survey (a national household probability sample) reported having a male primary partner who had been in prison or jail. In addition, a study of low-income urban African American mothers found that 22 percent had a current sexual partner who had been incarcerated (Battle et al 1996). …”

Section: Families Of the Incarcerated And The Consequences They Bearmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consequences of Family Member Incarceration

Lee¹,

Porter²,

The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Scie

2013

Political participation and citizens' perceptions of the legitimacy and fairness of government are central components of democracy. In this article, we examine one possible threat to these markers of a just political system: family member incarceration. We offer a unique glimpse into the broader social consequences of punishment that are brought on by a partner's or parent's incarceration. We argue that the criminal justice system serves as an important institution for political socialization for the families of those imprisoned, affecting their attitudes and orientations toward the government and their will and capacity to become involved in political life. We draw from ethnographic data collected by one of the authors, quantitative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, and interviews with recently released male prisoners and their female partners. Our findings suggest that experiences of a family member's incarceration complicate perceptions of government legitimacy and fairness and serve as a barrier to civic participation.

“…Furthermore, the multi-site evaluation of the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative reported that 75% of incarcerated fathers were either married or in an intimate relationship (Lattimore, Visher et al, 2008), and a study of low-income African-American women found that 22% had a current male partner who previously had been incarcerated (Battle, 1995). These findings indicate that at any given time, millions of women are either separated from a partner who is behind bars or are reuniting with a partner who is returning home from a correctional facility.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Considerations in HIV Prevention for Women Affected by the Criminal Justice System

Kramer

2011

Women's Health Issues

Within the national dialogue of HIV prevention strategies, relatively little consideration is given to the millions of women and girls affected by the criminal justice system either through their own incarceration or that of their partners. Yet statistics indicate that these women and girls are disproportionately infected or at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections and much of this risk is directly related to the dynamics and circumstances that led to their incarceration or relationships with incarcerated men. As we look for the link between public health and correctional health within our National HIV/AIDS Strategy, it is imperative that the risks, obstacles, and opportunities facing women and girls affected by incarceration are brought into the discussion. Gender responsive HIV prevention policies and practices must be developed to address the unique risks and opportunities for these women and girls. This paper presents data on HIV risk and other health issues specific to this community of women and girls, discusses key factors for consideration when developing gender-responsive HIV strategies for these communities, and makes recommendations for inclusion in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and other state and local HIV prevention efforts.