Ten things that matter when working with court-involved pregnant women
1. TenThings that MatterWhen
Working withCourt-Involved
PregnantWomen
September25,2015
Presented by:
Laura Stabile, LCSW
Sarah Reckess, Esq.
300 S. State Street,
Syracuse, NY
(315) 266-4333
courtinnovation.org
2. We have no conflicts of interest or relevant financial relationships with any commercial entities.
~~~~~~~~~
The Patient Navigator Program is generously funded by
the March of Dimes and
the Health Foundation ofWestern and Central NewYork.
3. 1.Women are
the fastest
growing
segment of the
jail population
Most crimes are
nonviolent,
drug-based,
property crimes
In some
locations, the
increase was
153%
6-10% of the
female jail
population is
pregnant
From National Resource Center on Justice InvolvedWomen, “TenTruths that Matter when Working
with Justice InvolvedWomen,” April 2012.
4. 2.Women’s
paths to
criminal
activity are
different than
men’s
Co-occurring
disorders
Intimate partner
violence
Sexual abuse Poverty
Victimization
linked to criminal
behavior
From National Resource Center on Justice InvolvedWomen, “TenTruths that Matter when Working
with Justice InvolvedWomen,” April 2012.
5. 3.A large
proportion
have
substance
abuse
problems
60% report drug
dependence in year
prior to admission
Strong
predictor of
reoffending
75% of those
with mental
illness
From National Resource Center on Justice InvolvedWomen, “TenTruths that Matter when Working
with Justice InvolvedWomen,” April 2012.
6. 4. Pregnancies
are high-risk
and unplanned
Lack prenatal
care
Poor nutrition
& smoking
Domestic
violence
Mental illness
Drug and
alcohol abuse
High rates of
HIV & chronic
disease
From theAmerican College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, “Health Care for Pregnant and Postpartum Incarcerated
Women andAdolescent Females,” Nov. 2011.
7. The
Reproductive
andSexual
HealthStatus
of Incarcerated
Women
Would accept contraception if offered in jail 76%
No or Inconsistent birth control in prior 3
months
72% - 79%
Sexually active in prior 3 months 84%
Plans to be sexually active when released 85%
Positive pregnancy attitude 9-23%
Prior unplanned pregnancy 84%
How many correctional facilities nationwide offer contraception?
38%
From National Resource Center on Justice InvolvedWomen, “Improving Programs and Services for
Women in Jails: Healthcare,” Oct. 2014.
8. 5.Chronic
health care
issues are high
More likely than male inmates to
have a chronic health condition
• 25% vs. 20% infectious disease
• 67% vs. 48% chronic condition
More likely than male inmates to
be obese or morbidly obese
• 43% vs. 27%
From Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Medical Problems of State and Federal Prisoners and Jail Inmates, 2011-12,” Feb. 2015
10. 6.WomenCost
Money
8% of the prison
healthcare
budget
4% of the prison
population
FromWomen in Prison Project of the Correctional Association of NewYork, “Reproductive Injustice: the
State of Reproductive Health Care for Women in NewYork State Prisons,” 2015.
11. 7. Prenatal care
is not
comprehensive
NY state =C
Pros Cons
From NationalWomen’s LawCenter, “Mothers Behind Bars,” no date.
12. 8.
Engagement
in criminal
behavior is
often related
to
relationships
Dynamics of
relationship with
significant other
Prevalence of
sexual victimization
and maltreatment
Desire to maintain
relationship at any
cost
From National Resource Center on Justice InvolvedWomen, “TenTruths that Matter when Working
with Justice InvolvedWomen,” April 2012.
Screening for
intimate partner
violence is crucial!
13. 9. Recidivism
of women is
higher than
men
60% of women rearrested within 3 years of release
30% returned to prison within 3 years
Men tend to be “forgiven”
Women seen as morally corrupt, esp. if mother
From National Resource Center on Justice InvolvedWomen, “TenTruths that Matter when Working
with Justice InvolvedWomen,” April 2012.
14. 10.Transition
and reentry
from jail can be
challenging
Child-rearing
responsibilities
Access to safe
housing
Low education/
employment
Health care
needs
From National Resource Center on Justice InvolvedWomen, “TenTruths that Matter when
Working with Justice InvolvedWomen,” April 2012.
15. Video:
HearOur
Voices
A partnership between Crouse Hospital’s Chemical DependencyTreatment
Services and the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion at Syracuse
University
“Hear OurVoices:
A Glimpse into the
Experience of
Pregnant
Substance Users”
19. Some data
from
Onondaga
County
14% smoked during
last trimester
4.5% used illicit
drugs
Preterm birth rate
12.7
Black infant
mortality rate higher
than US average
(14.4 vs. 13.3)
20. “Typical”Client
Active substance addiction
Mom, but not raising other kids
Arrested for prostitution or theft, or has neglect/abuse
petition in family court
Diagnosed mental health disorder
History of D.V. or sexual assault
Is pregnant
Unemployed
Homeless or at risk of homelessness
Smoker
Dropped out of high school in 9th/10th
Medicaid
23. Questions and
Comments
A client and her daughter
Learn more at:
www.courtinnovation.org
Or contact us at:
lstabile@nycourts.gov
(315) 266-4333
Editor's Notes
Jail population is more likely to have ever had a chronic condition or infectious disease than the general population - 44% vs. 31%; 21% vs. 4.8%
40% of inmates with infectious diseases or chronic conditions are taking drugs
Only a handful of states provide a medical examination as part of jail-based prenatal care: CA, NH, NC, NY OK, PA, TX
Criminal justice involvement is fueled by the dynamics of their relationships with significant others.
Prevalence of sexual victimization and other maltreatment is higher among justice-involved women than general population
The desire to maintain relationships at any cost, including demonstrating loyalty and to please a significant other
Screening for intimate partner violence is crucial!
Men tend to be “forgiven” for their crimes by family
60% of women released from incarceration were rearrested and 30% returned to prison within 3 years of release.
