Ethnographic assessment of an alternative to incarceration for women with minor children.

Abstract

Allowing criminal justice-involved women to remain with their children in the community may decrease some of the negative intergenerational effects of incarceration. Little is known about potential program models to safely support community co-residence in this population. Ethnographic methods were used to explore the historical development of and life within a supportive housing alternative to incarceration (ATI) program for women with minor children and how they impact the health and social needs of resident families. Participants included 8 current and former adult tenant, 12 of the their resident children, 3 program staff, the program administrator, and 5 prosecutors who originally conceptualized it. Women also reported information about their 8 non-resident children. Analysis revealed three major themes: “The Cycle,” “This is My Home,” and “This Doesn’t Go With That.” While the program built on a core value of family preservation, results illustrate that keeping families together is only the beginning. Clinical and research implications for co-residence ATI programs are discussed in relation to the uniqueness of this context and population.

Reproductive justice for incarcerated mothers and advocacy for their infants and young children

“…Community programming supports the development of mother–infant relationships and aims to prevent children from entering foster care, with positive effects on relapse and recidivism. In her ethnographic study of one program which provided supportive housing and wraparound services as an alternative to incarceration, Goshin () described the experiences of formerly incarcerated women who lived in the unit, their children, program staff, program administrators, and prosecutors. Participants described the program as providing women with a safe space to live, allowing them the opportunity to complete court requirements, while being able to reside with and provide care for their children.…”

An international human rights perspective on maternal criminal justice involvement in the United States.

“…Published evaluations suggest multiple positive outcomes. First, at the most basic level, preliminary evidence suggests that women can live safely with their children and other mothers in a range of unlocked community settings (Barkauskas, Low, & Pimlott, 2002; Brennan, 2008; Cassidy et al, 2010; Goshin, 2015; Lichtenwalter, Garase, & Barker, 2010). Programs developed in collaboration with health care providers appear to improve access to supportive services, such as childbirth preparation and parenting interventions (Cassidy et al, 2010; Siefert & Pimlott, 2001).…”

“…Women’s crimes also limit their eligibility. Stated criteria in all prison nurseries, with the exception of New York and Washington State, and community programs with published evaluations, strictly prohibit women who have a history of any violent crimes (Goshin, 2015; Goshin & Byrne, 2009). Recent evidence from New York suggests that women convicted of violent crimes are being denied program access without the statutorily mandated case-by-case assessments of safety and best interest of the child (Women in Prison Project, 2015).…”

“…At the program level, community alternatives are most often administered by private nonprofits, which lack a steady funding stream like state departments of correction. Funding inadequacies have led to both abrupt program closures and the stalling of promising programs for lack of resources (Cassidy et al, 2010; Goshin, 2015). In sum, although progress has been made with regard to the availability of community-based mother–child programs, they are underused due to narrow eligibility requirements and limited resources.…”

“…For women who present a low risk to community safety, we recommend collaboration between criminal justice professionals, community service programs, health care providers, and researchers to develop and disseminate national best practices for diversion programs specifically for pregnant women and women with children. For criminal justice partners, support for women’s parenting may be seen as a crime prevention opportunity—the mother’s “hook for change” (Bachman, Kerrison, Paternoster, Smith, & O’Connell, 2016; Giordano, Cernkovich, & Rudolph, 2002)—and early prevention of potential future delinquency in children (Goshin, 2015). Community agencies are needed for their existing service infrastructure, therapeutic orientation, and closer connection to affected communities.…”