Mothers in Prison

Mothers in Prison

Introduction

Over 209,000 individuals are currently incarcerated in federal prisons in the United States. While the vast majorities (93.5%) of federal offenders are male, 6.5% are female. Approximately 38.7% are African American, 57.8% are White, and 32.9% identify as Hispanic. According to the Federal Bureau of Prison statistics in 2011, the largest number of convictions stems from drug-related offenses (51.3%); followed by weapons, explosives, or arson charges (15.3%); and immigration offenses (11.0%). The remainder of offenses encompass less than 5% each, with robbery at 4.3% and homicide, aggressive assault, and kidnapping combining for 2.8%. Because of the prevalence of alcohol and drug use in offenders and the link between aggressive personality traits and substance use, this study examined the association between aggressive personality traits and alcohol and drug use. There is already a lot of overcrowding occurring in all prisons, especially women prisons. Women are also experiencing lack of service programs in prison. The substance abuse programs offered in women prisons combines education and treatment issues into each program. The combination of treatment with education produces more effective programs with more successful outcomes. The service programs for women are lacking such as programs that address substance abuse and drug dependency. Approximately 80, 000 women detained or incarcerated in jails or prisons are mothers, and many are pregnant. In the United States, women under supervision by the justice system agencies were mothers of an estimated 1.3 million minor children. It is extremely difficult for pregnant women in prison. They cannot do what they would be able to do if they were not incarcerated. Parenting and child care programs in women prisons are lacking as well. Incarceration creates separation on the mother-child bond as well as the whole family. Many pregnant female offenders are separated from their child right after the birth of their child takes place. They are not able to have any bonding time with their children and it separates them. The substance abuse and drug dependency programs as well as the parenting and child care programs are lacking in women prisons. Because of the lack of these programs, many female offenders go through depression and mental health issues which in result cause them to have to seek more help. The concept of more service programs is simple, and if this concept is carried out correctly it is an excellent asset for female offenders in prison. Therefore, all the issues related to women in prison will be discussed in detail.

Literature Review

There is an epidemic in the United States that threatens the lives of individuals and has a significant impact on the larger society. Substance use and abuse has been evident in our society for many years and continues to be a problem that our society must face. More than 20 million people in this country are estimated to meet the criteria for diagnosis of a substance use disorder. Approximately ten percent of the U.S population over 12 years of age is reported to have a substance abuse ...