NCJ Number
214741
Journal
Justice Policy Journal Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2006 Pages: 1-20
Date Published
2006
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This needs assessment of inmate mothers who might be involved in the development of a secure e-mail-based literacy program that would link them with their children involved face-to-face interviews with 36 women inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, CT.
Abstract
The mothers in this sample overwhelmingly supported the concept for the program, which permitted secure contact between the inmate mothers and their children through video or e-mail transmission of a shared literacy program that intended to promote and improve reading levels among the mothers and their children. The women wanted more contact with their children, and they also wanted to improve their reading skills; however, a number of potential problems were identified in the interviews, including a lack of computers in the homes where the children lived and the children's lack of knowledge of computers. Also, many of the women suffered from emotional and psychological trauma. Equipment and training for the program will require investments in equipment and trainers. Mental health issues could be addressed in the content of the curriculum, such as readings about separation and missing loved ones, grief, and how to manage emotions like anger and sadness. The readings in the curriculum might also stimulate thinking about diversity, decisionmaking, and problem solving, since many of the children might have problem behaviors. The interview form included more than 80 open-ended and closed-ended questions related to education; work history; criminal history; trauma history; relationship with children; coping, social support, and self-esteem; and motivation for intervention. The interview form was supplemented with a computerized screening version of the Structured Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 21 references