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Jail Staff Members' Views on Jailed Women's Mental Health, Trauma, Offending, Rehabilitation, and Reentry

NCJ Number
249440
Journal
Prison Journal Dated: 2015 Pages: Online First
Author(s)
Joanne Belknap; Shannon Lynch; Dana DeHart
Date Published
2015
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Among the increasing studies of incarcerated women, whose numbers have increased since the 1970s, this study is unique in that it reports perspectives of 37 jail staff members (e.g., supervisors, line staff, and mental and physical health care providers), from four regions of the United States.
Abstract
Interviews explored staff perceptions of women's pathways to jail and their individual, structural, and reentry needs and challenges, including frequent experiences of interpersonal violence and struggles with mental health. Staff perceptions were consistent with the existing literature. Most of the staff were at least partially sympathetic to and aware of the women's difficult and varied lives and challenges. (Publisher abstract modified)