NCJ Number
223208
Date Published
2007
Length
30 pages
Annotation
Based on a larger research study that explored the differential risk, need, and mitigating protective factors related to histories of physical and sexual victimization reported by incarcerated and non-incarcerated women, this chapter examines the findings of this study with regard to the sample of incarcerated women and the sample of ‘free’ women living in four different communities.
Abstract
Though supported in the existing literature, the extent to which women from both the prison and the community samples have experienced violence is startling. Though the sampling strategies may have resulted in some bias, the extent of reports of multiple victimizations in the study sample cannot be underestimated. About 66 percent of the women in the incarcerated sample reported having experienced both child and adult victimizations; and nearly 40 percent of the community women did the same. These results suggest that new investigations must be pursued with regard to value of the services used and the perceived helpfulness of them by women who have experienced cumulative risks or what has been referred to as ‘enduring trauma’, and also of their ultimate adult outcomes. In addition, the findings indicate that with the exception of welfare, the supports perceived as being most helpful were those that were the least received. This chapter examines the concepts of risk and need in the context of women and offending, with particular reference to the needs of women in prison. The chapter reports on the prevalence rates of youth maltreatment and adult physical and sexual victimization and on women’s post-victimization service utilization and appraisal, as well as the impact of service usage and non-usage on adult outcomes of health, mental health, substance use, and incarceration. References and tables