Reentry and the (Unmet) Needs of Women

Abstract

The number of women under community-based criminal justice supervision in the U.S. has reached an all-time high. Because of this, there is an increased need for programs meant to address the unique needs of reentry women. In this article we examine a sample of 155 such programs to determine whether currently available reentry programs in the 10 largest metropolitan areas of the U.S. are able to meet the needs of reentry women. We find that currently available reentry programs do not sufficiently meet the needs of postincarceration women.

The socio-demographic characteristics and health needs of incarcerated women applying to a transitional housing re-entry program

“…Despite the increasing number of women exiting correctional facilities, relatively few re-entry programs meet the needs of female former inmates [14]. This study reveals several notable trends with regard to the demographics, medical needs, and historical drug usage of applicants to a community re-entry program that can help inform future programming and target resource gaps for this population.…”

“…Current reentry programming predominantly focuses on social factors influencing recidivism, such as employment and education; relatively few integrate healthcare or counseling [14]; However, the breadth of needs described here indicate the necessity for a more integrative, biopsychosocial approach for successful reentry of formerly incarcerated populations into society. Programs must address the high prevalence of addiction, serious mental health conditions, chronic disease, vocational and educational training needs, trauma and abuse, and socioeconomic insecurity.…”

A Retrospective Analysis of Repeated Incarceration Using a National Sample: What Makes Female Inmates Different From Male Inmates?

“…Although these might sound like trivial reasons, they all constitute technical violations for which the privilege of parole can be revoked (see Peat, 2010) and lie outside the sphere of competencies of parole supervisors. The inadequacy of substance abuse treatment programs is also a major risk for women addicted to illegal drugs because the urge to support their habit increases the risk for reoffending (Huebner et al, 2010;Scroggins & Malley, 2010). The implication here is not that parole officers are unsupportive of female parolees, but that the support programs necessary for successful reentry for women are lacking.…”

Women Prisoners and the Drive for Desistance: Capital and Responsibilization as a Barrier to Change

“…Studies which specifically document women's experience of post-release and which examine issues around resettlement and re-entry (Carlton & Segrave, 2011, 2013Berman, 2005;Arditti and Few, 2006;Herrschaft et al, 2009;Cobbina & Bender 2012;Baldry 2010;Brown & Ross 2010;Scroggins & Malley 2010;Holtfreter and Wattanaporn, 2014;Huebner, De Jong & Cobbina, 2010) are contributing to the building of a woman-centred literature around the topic of desistance. Such studies attend to women's experiences of recidivism and desistance after experiencing specific types of punishment or penal intervention however there is still work to be done around the gendered differences in desistance.…”

“…As is too often the case in criminological research, women are underrepresented in these areas of investigation, however this is changing with a growing body of work examining the process of re-entry for women offenders following release (Berman, 2005;Arditti and Few, 2006;Herrschaft et al, 2009;Scroggins and Malley, 2010;Holtfreter and Wattanaporn, 2014). Despite this there is currently no UK study on the prison based resettlement practices of women prisoners, examining issues around resettlement prior to release and the relation this has to desistence.…”