A needs assessment of incarcerated mothers and their children
Files
Executive summary
Date
2018-01-16
DOI
Authors
Norton-Hawk, Maureen
Mastrorilli, Mary Ellen
Version
OA Version
Citation
Maureen Norton-Hawk, Mary Ellen Mastrorilli. 2018. "A Needs Assessment of Incarcerated Mothers and Their Children."
Abstract
An analysis of the needs of incarcerated women and their children was conducted in 1999 for the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department in Boston, Massachusetts. This earlier study concluded that incarcerated mothers had a wide variety of challenges including lack of access to stable living arrangements, unsafe and inadequate housing, marginal education, limited job skills, poly-drug addiction, and family instability. It was argued, at that time, that ignoring the difficulties faced by these mothers and their children was setting the stage for increased risk for recidivism among the mothers and poor health, education, and behavioral outcomes for the children (Gabel & Johnston, 1995).The goal of this study is to determine the current educational, familial, economic, health, criminal justice and social conditions of sentenced or awaiting trial women at Suffolk County House of Corrections to provide an overview of the challenges faced by these women as they try to re-enter mainstream society.