9781422280058

Jane’s stepfather routinely abused her during her childhood and adolescence. She also endured repeated molestations by other family and nonfamily members. The damage she suffered at the hands of her abusers led Jane to develop what one psychologist referred to as “severe assertive and relationship deficits.” To deal with her abuse, Jane turned to alcohol. Jane endedup in a common-lawmarriage (a long-termcohabitation recognized in some jurisdictions as a marriage, though no ceremony was performed) to an- other abuser. With Jane’s full knowledge and consent, her common-law husband repeatedlymolested Jane’s young daughter by another man. This abuse lasted six years and culminated in the girl’s rape when she was in her early teens. When Jane’s daughter protested, Jane forced the teen to have sexual relations with her stepfather by threatening to hit or punch the girl or take away her privileges if she did not comply. When her daughter refused or complained, Jane beat her. Jane’s daughter’s scars and bruises testified that she often refused. Finally, the ultimate victim in this tragedy, Jane’s daughter, called the police after her step- father raped her. The Courts convicted Jane of a federal offense (sexual exploitation of a mi- nor) and sentenced her to three years in prison. When the courts granted Jane full parole , it was with the stipulations that she have no contact with her daughter, with her former common-law husband, and with any children under 16 years of age. She also had to agree to counseling. Jane is nowcoming to termswithher past abuse and victimization. Counseling has helped Jane understand why she, an abuse victim, became the co-abuser of her daughter. Jane’s alcoholism is being treated and is currently under control, and her once-estranged daughter wants to rebuild their damaged relationship. In this case, Jane’s abusive past damagedher emotionally and ledher to become involved in unhealthy relationships, substance abuse, and criminal activity, all of which put her behind bars. She is not alone. Women in Prison and Emotional Health Issues A Bureau of Justice Statistics Report, Mental Health Problems of Prison and Jail Inmates , reported that 73 percent of incarcerated women suffer from some kind of mental health or emotional health issue. Around 80 percent have a history of abusing drugs or alcohol. According to the U.S. Coalition for Juvenile Justice, up to 75 percent of girls in the juvenile court system in the United States have been physically or sexually abused. Though girls make up only 29 percent of the juvenile court population, they account for nearly 60 percent of juvenile arrests for running away. Dr. H. C. Davis, the supervisor of education at the Dr. Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft, OK, describes a “typical” female offender as someone whose history includes substance abuse, low self-esteem, and sexual abuse. Jane, whose offenses were described above, fits this profile almost perfectly: she had been physically and sexually abused before the time of her offenses, she knew her abusers, she developed an addiction to alcohol, and she had a poor self-image.

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Women Incarcerated

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