Double Jeopardy: A Review of Women Offenders' Mental Health and Substance Abuse Characteristics

Abstract

Studies of women offenders with respect to the continuing salience of two co-occurring and pernicious characteristics-mental health (including traumatic experiences) and substance abuse (including HIV)-were reviewed. Findings indicated that research on these interrelated phenomena bears directly on a population that has been historically understudied and poorly serviced. As findings on women offenders are inadequately integrated and lack conceptual direction, a biosocial dynamic framework is introduced as a potentially useful organizing tool for future research and practice. The authors conclude that as the correctional system continues to be a repository for persons afflicted with mental health and substance use disorders, sound empirical knowledge is particularly needed with respect to future service allocation for women offenders.

Deportation Experiences of Women Who Inject Drugs in Tijuana, Mexico

“…These findings are consistent with research on the economic, social, and drug-related challenges that incarcerated drug-using women face when released into communities where they lack social support and financial opportunities (Karberg & James, 2005; Richie, 2001; Robbins, Martin, & Surratt, 2009; Van Olphen, Eliason, Freudenberg, & Barnes, 2009; Yasunaga, 2001). The experiences of women in our sample support arguments that the U.S. criminal justice system needs evidence-based drug treatment services for minority women (Adams, Leukefeld, & Peden, 2008; Chandler, Fletcher, & Volkow, 2009; Gordon, Kinlock, Schwartz, & O’Grady, 2008), including drug treatment and other health and social programs for parolees reentering communities (Prendergast, 2009; Richie; Robbins et al; Sarteschi & Vaughn, 2010). Our findings suggest that women could have benefitted from sustained drug treatment services in U.S. prisons/detention centers, and following their deportations; however, none of our respondents had accessed drug treatment or other reentry services in the United States or Mexico.…”

Psychosocial Determinants of Health among Incarcerated Black Women: A Systematic Literature Review

“…15 Substance use disorders among incarcerated women are reportedly between 30-70% compared to 3-6% in the general population. 16 In addition, incarcerated women are more likely to be convicted of a drug-related crime than any other offense.…”

“…Incarcerated women often have limited education, which has been linked to difficulty in understanding positive health behavior and results in poor health status. 4, 11, 15 Specific individual behaviors measured include drug use and drug-related criminal activity, such as distribution, and types of criminal conviction. Demographic individual factors measured include income and/or employment status as well as living situation.…”

Health Services Use Among Jailed Women with Alcohol Use Disorders

“…11 Prior to incarceration in a medium-security correctional center, one-third of women had not seen a medical care provider in the last year when they needed to because of the cost, and two-thirds had obtained health care at an emergency room. 12 Similarly, women with a recent arrest reported difficulty with health care payments, finding a health clinic, and obtaining transportation to clinics.…”