Research on Incarcerated Women

Project Summary for 2000 WT-VX 0010 This study will sample from three women's prison in South Carolina in order to identify risk factors for criminal involvement, possible points of intervention, strengths for that may help women make positive life choices, and ways to enhance programming for the ultimate well-being of women, families, and communities. The objectives are to enhance understanding of the (1) scope and depth of the impact of violence within the life histories and daily experiences of incarcerated women; (2) women's points of vulnerability to violence and protective buffers against its impact, (3) support structures in the women's lives and ways to strengthen these supports, (4) turning points and prospective opportunities for intervention; and (5) ways to refine and enhance justice perceptions of the effectiveness of early interventions in their lives and corrections-based interventions. This includes effectiveness not only for addressing criminal behavior, but also for addressing victimization, poverty and addictions. ca/ncf