The proposal advocates for legislation aimed at reducing recidivism rates among female offenders in Utah by implementing a voluntary educational program on female reproductive health. It highlights the significant financial burden of incarceration and unintended pregnancies, emphasizing the need for systematic education to empower women post-release and decrease repeat offenses. The initiative aims to promote healthier family planning and community reintegration while addressing the lack of current reproductive health resources available to female inmates.

1. A Proposal for Legislation:
How To Reduce Recidivism Rates Among
Utah Female Offenders
Risk, Reproduction, Reintegration, & Reduction
By: Larry L. Bench Ph.D. & Hadley Hege

2. ❖ $18 million per year is spent in Utah to house female inmates
when at capacity.
❖ $158 million was spent on unintended pregnancies during 2010 in
Utah. The cost could have been more.
➢ $13.6 billion was saved, nationally, due to public family planning
services.
➢ $7.09 was saved for every $1 spent to fund these programs.
❖ Rates are increasing for:
➢ Women’s recidivism (reoffending after release from incarceration)
➢ Unintended pregnancy (any unplanned conception)
2

3. ❖ The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
(ACOG) states that incarceration is a good time to educate
women on intended and healthy pregnancies prior to release.
➢ Reducing unintended pregnancies will aid women after their release to
avoid recidivism.
➢ It will help women who have been incarcerated begin to build more stable lives
and plan for healthier families.
➢ Reduce the risk of secondary effects and future costs to the government.
Why the need for written policy?
❖ Without written policy women become subject to the chosen practice
and politics of the prison in which they are incarcerated.
3

4. THE CYCLE: The Cost is High
4

5. Our Proposal for Legislation
❖ Passing a bill to establish a standard and consistent course offered to
female offenders in Utah on a voluntary basis that addresses female
health and reproduction will:
➢ Decrease tax dollars spent on unintended pregnancy, incarceration, and
post-release
➢ Reduce Recidivism by providing tools for physical and mental well-being
➢ Ensure equal opportunity access to reproductive health information
➢ Reintegrate female offenders back into a community by promoting educated
healthy choices, personal control, responsibility, and community resources
5

6. Utah’s Women in Prison
❖ $18 million is spent per year to house female inmates in Utah when at
capacity = 671 beds
❖ $27,117 is spent per year/inmate
➢ 2013 facilities exceeded capacity
■ 689 inmates incarcerated
■ 95.6% of beds are full, on average
Increasing incarceration rates force Correctional Departments, on
the State & Federal level, to dip into surplus funds. 6

7. Our Nation's Incarcerated Females
❖ Women make up 9% of our Nation’s incarcerated population.
➢ 210,000+ are currently serving time
■ 1.5% annual increase compared to men’s rates
■ Women are more likely to be charged with
drug or property offenses than violent crimes
➢ ⅓ of women reported trying to support a drug habit
prior to their arrest.
❖ The majority of women are younger than 50 years old and therefore are of
reproductive age which puts them at risk for unintended pregnancy.
7

8. Probation & Recidivism Rates are Rising
❖ 1,050,000 women are estimated to be currently on probation.
❖ 60% of women paroled will be rearrested for new offenses.
➢ Nearly ⅓ will be sentenced on new charges and return to incarceration.
➢ 2013 vs. 2012: 180% increase of women violating probation which resulted in
their reincarceration.
❖ Pre-intervention strategies are opportune moments for education and
assistance to aid a successful reintegration into society.
8

9. Unintended Pregnancies are Costly
❖ 50% of pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended
➢ 68% are publicly funded = $21 billion toward 1.5 million unintended
pregnancies in 2010
➢ 95% are due to lack of contraceptive use or inconsistent use
➢ Greater potential for high risk pregnancies which are more costly
❖ We have already started to save on the National level with public programs that
address female reproductive health but the rates of unintended pregnancies are
still high.
❖ High costs persist due to secondary effects that extend beyond prenatal care
and birth.
9

10. Utah’s Unintended Pregnancy
❖ Cost to the Public:
➢ 53% (9,000) of births were publicly funded in 2010
➢ In 2010 the state spent $158 million on unintended
pregnancies
■ $30.4 million in state funds
■ $127.6 million in federal funds
❖ Rates & Outcomes:
➢ 2010 - 36% of 24,000 pregnancies were unintended
➢ 71% of these pregnancies resulted in births
10

11. Risks of Unintended Pregnancy
❖ High risk pregnancies can result in:
➢ Birth defects, premature birth, spontaneous miscarriage, risk to alcohol/drug exposure, and
communicable diseases
❖ More likely to delay prenatal care or abort
❖ Higher incidences of mental health problems
❖ Less stable romantic relationships, women are often unmarried
❖ Lower Socioeconomic Status (SES)
❖ Some may be from reproductive abuse. (A partner’s influence regarding the
intention behind or outcome of a pregnancy.)
➢ May increase risk for Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
❖ Women are likely to become depressed if their pregnancy is unintended or their
infant is taken after birth.
11

12. Female Inmate Health Data
❖ Female inmate health data has shown:
➢ 73% are symptomatic for mental disorders
➢ 59% are more likely to have chronic/communicable diseases than the general population,
including sexually transmitted infections (STI)
➢ Many have history of alcohol abuse, illicit substance use, commercialized sex work,
domestic violence, and a lower socioeconomic status (SES)
❖ Research has shown OB/Gyn access often is subpar during
incarceration.
➢ No physical upon admission.
➢ Annual check ups are inconsistent and put women’s health at greater risk.
12

13. Pregnant in Prison?
❖ ACOG reports 6-10% of female inmates are pregnant at any given time.
(2011)
➢ 1 out of 25 in state prisons, 1 out of 33 in federal prisons
➢ Many first learn of pregnancy upon admittance
❖ Bureau of Justice Statistics report found only 54% of pregnant prisoners
received prenatal care in 2008. Pregnant female inmates may be at risk of:
➢ High levels of psychological distress, women often do not receive appropriate
reproductive health counseling or support services
➢ High risk pregnancies
➢ Restraints may be used on the mother during birth or during infant care.
13

14. Incarceration & Motherhood
❖ 60% of women in prison reported
being a mother to a minor (2004)
➢ 4 in 10 mothers reported being a single
parent
➢ 64% reported children lived with them
prior to incarceration
❖ After birth, an infant may be
immediately removed from their
mother depending on the jurisdiction.
➢ Removes the option of breastfeeding
➢ May increase risk of postpartum
depression
14

15. Children with Incarcerated Parents
❖ Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) requires the state to petition the
court for parental termination rights once a child
has been in foster care 15 out of 22 months.
➢ The court does not take incarceration into account.
➢ 36 months is the median sentence
➢ Creates further cost to the state and federal government
❖ Children of female offenders are 5 times more likely to become
involved in the criminal justice system.
15

16. Prison’s Female Family Planning Statistics
In Utah State prisons, no programs exist to educate inmates on
reproductive or sexual health.
❖ Many women report having intercourse before incarceration & may be at risk
of pregnancy:
➢ Due to lack of contraceptive use
➢ Discontinuance of chosen method upon incarceration
❖ Women often have a previous history of unintended pregnancy
➢ Inmates pose high risk for unintended pregnancy upon release.
➢ Incarcerated women often have poor access to services in the community post-release.
➢ May lack the knowledge, insurance, personal choice, or finances to obtain their chosen
contraceptive method.
16

17. A Rhode Island Study Addressing Pre vs. Post
Release Family Planning Success Rates
❖ 2 phase study: Provided education on female reproductive and sexual
health, along with offering contraception pre & post incarceration
➢ Females reported:
■ No health care coverage
■ Inconsistent contraceptive use, history of abuse, commercialized sex work, and
history of mental health issues.
❖ Linked Community Health Center & RI Adult Correctional Institution
■ Provide; family planning education, contraceptive methods, reproductive health,
STI prevention, cancer screening, & breast examinations
■ Pre release phase provided contraception prior to release, Post release offered free
community services
■ Offered women a no cost, free ride follow up appointment
17

18. Rhode Island Findings
❖ Inmates expressed interest in using contraception yet had negative
views towards female reproductive health.
➢ 82.9% history of unplanned pregnancies
➢ Found high rates of:
■ Substance use in past 90 days, prior incarceration, history of sexually
transmitted infections (STI)
❖ Pre release phase showed a much higher success rate in initiating a
contraceptive plan and follow through after incarceration.
➢ Benefits included: No financial cost, no prior gynecological appointment
needed, cut out need for transportation and child care needed to attend visit.
➢ Participants were more likely to use community services after transitioning.
18

19. Our Healthy Female Education Proposal
❖ A voluntary class for inmates on female health and reproduction.
➢ Led by a knowledgeable educator with the aim to:
■ Reduce recidivism by preventing unplanned pregnancies and inform inmates about
family planning skills and community resources.
■ Rework negative views and offer education regarding female physiology and
health.
■ Provide tools for physical and mental health.
■ Establish a working knowledge of one’s own body and personal accountability will
further chances at a successful reintegration.
❖ This will reduce the $18 million spent on female incarceration and the $158
million towards unintended pregnancy in the state of Utah.
19

20. Outline for Course Standards
❖ Educational class for voluntary inmates on:
➢ Anatomy & Physiology- human reproductive system
➢ Sexual Health & STI prevention
➢ Contraceptive methods & family planning
➢ Preconception counseling
■ Cover risks such as substance abuse, poor prenatal care, disease exposure
■ Risk prevention- unintended pregnancy, prenatal nutrition
➢ Healthy Choices and Views:
● How to make educated choices regarding personal health and reproductive autonomy
● Education on domestic violence, unintended pregnancy, and how to utilize
community services and outreach programs for help
20

21. A Look at Teen Education Today
❖ 2011-2013 Teens received:
➢ 80% formal education on STI’s & how to say no
■ 55% received formal instruction on Birth Control Methods
❖ In 2014 U.S. public & private high schools taught:
➢ Contraceptive efficacy- 61%
➢ How to correctly use condoms- 35%
States with comprehensive programs often have
lower pregnancy rates
21

22. 22
❖ 2011-2013 Teens
received:
➢ 80%- formal education
on STI’s & how to say
no to intercourse
➢ 55%- received formal
instruction on Birth
Control Methods
Education on Contraceptive Methods are Declining

23. 23
❖ In 2014 U.S. public &
private high schools
taught:
➢ 35%- How to correctly
use condoms
➢ 61%- Contraceptive
efficacy
Comprehensive Reproductive Education is Declining

24. Is There Any Evidence?
❖ Research has found comprehensive sexual/reproductive education
can:
➢ Helps young people protect health by:
■ Delaying sexual intercourse
■ Using appropriate contraception
■ Reduce STI’s and adolescent pregnancy
➢ National Family Survey of Growth found:
■ Teens, 15-19 years old, who received a comprehensive education were
50% less likely to experience an unplanned pregnancy compared to
those who received abstinence only education.
24

25. But What About Adults?
STI cases are on the rise! An overview of last year:
➢ Most affected and at risk are:
■ Racial minorities, young people
➢ Chlamydia rates grew by 5.9%
■ 1.5 million cases reported
■ Disproportionately affects women
➢ The rate of syphilis diagnosis for women
■ Increased by 27%
■ Congenital syphilis (passed on during birth) rose by 6%
25

26. Organizations that Support a Comprehensive
Educational Approach for Teens
❖ American Medical Association
❖ American Academy of Pediatrics
❖ American Public Health
Association
❖ Institute of Medicine
❖ American School Health
Association
❖ Society for Adolescent Medicine
26
❖ ACLU of Utah
❖ Utah National
Organization for Women
❖ Utah Progressive
Network
❖ Planned Parenthood
Action Council

27. 27
If we can apply a comprehensive sexual/reproductive
principle and standards for our Teens, why aren’t we
for our inmates?

28. In Conclusion
❖ By sponsoring and supporting this potential piece of legislation for
the 2016 session, you will be:
➢ Decreasing state and federal funds being spent on recidivism and
unintended pregnancy.
➢ Actively supporting Utah’s goal in reducing recidivism and building
better families
➢ Providing female inmates with the educational tools to make
knowledgeable healthy choices upon release.
➢ Aiding women in reducing unintended pregnancies and working towards
creating healthier, more stable, children and families.
28

29. Current Utah Programs
❖ Juvenile programs
❖ Salt Lake County Metro Jail- Sexual & Reproductive
Health
29

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