Post-Prison Experiences Flashcards
Homelessness
A common issue faced by individuals post-prison, with reports of up to 60% of women experiencing homelessness upon release.
Social Marginalisation
Individuals who have been in prison are socially and economically marginalized, disproportionately to the general population.
Lack of education and formal qualifications
Post-prison experiences often involve limited access to education and formal qualifications, posing challenges for employment opportunities.
Poverty and health problems
Post-prison individuals frequently experience poverty and health issues, further exacerbating their challenges.
Disproportionate impact on individuals
The issues faced post-prison often impact individuals disproportionately within the general population.
Historical male-centric prison literature
Traditional prison literature has primarily focused on male experiences, neglecting the analysis of female post-prison experiences.
Inadequacy of prisons in addressing social problems
Prisons are found to be insufficient in addressing complex social problems faced by individuals, leading to continued marginalization post-release.
Socioeconomic inequality and barriers
Socioeconomic marginalization poses barriers to suitable accommodation, employment, education, and health services for post-prison individuals.
Loss of income and housing due to imprisonment
Imprisonment often results in the loss of income and housing for individuals, making post-release stability challenging.
Challenges in establishing income, housing, and social connections
Post-release, individuals face difficulties in rebuilding income, finding housing, and reconnecting with family and social networks.
Additional challenges for women
Women face specific challenges, including psychological impacts, economic instability, lack of access to housing and health services, stigma, and navigating complex systems.
Higher marginalization experienced by women post-prison
Women who have been in prison are more likely to experience higher levels of marginalization compared to men who have been incarcerated.
Over-incarceration of Indigenous women in Aotearoa New Zealand
Indigenous women in Aotearoa New Zealand are disproportionately represented in the prison population, leading to higher post-prison challenges.
Limited evaluations of post-prison services in Aotearoa New Zealand
There is a lack of comprehensive evaluations of post-prison programs and their effectiveness, especially concerning women’s experiences.
Issues with housing access and support after release
Access to stable housing is a significant challenge for individuals post-prison, particularly for women who face additional gendered factors.
Prevalence of homelessness after release
Many individuals experience homelessness after release, with reports of frequent moves and inadequate access to stable housing.
Lack of information and support for accessing housing
Released individuals often lack information and support on accessing appropriate housing, contributing to their difficulties.
Barriers to housing access: expensive housing, insecure income, and stigma
Factors such as expensive housing, insecure income, and the stigma associated with a prison record make accessing suitable housing challenging for post-prison individuals.
What is a significant issue in women’s prisons?
Physical and geographical separation
What are the challenges faced by post-prison support organizations?
Underfunding and lack of resources
What is necessary to provide access to housing and support for women post-release?
Substantial coordination between those in prison, prison staff, and post-prison support agencies.
What type of housing is preferred for women post-release?
Better long-term housing options rather than emergency or precarious short-term housing.
How does access to suitable housing benefit women post-release?
It contributes to reducing reoffending rates, provides safety from abusive relationships, and enables focus on health and family reconnections
What should good support for accommodation include?
Recognizing women’s individual needs, such as housing close to family or the ability to relocate away from unsupportive relationships.
What are some organizations in New Zealand that provide post-prison accommodation and support for women?
The Grace Foundation, Reclaim Another Woman, the Salvation Army, Anglican Action, and other NGOs.
What role does social connection play in post-prison support for women?
It helps build self-identity, self-confidence, healthy family and community relationships, and aids in meeting long-term re-integrative needs.
How can peer support contribute to effective support for women post-prison?
Peer support from those with lived experiences of incarceration helps address feelings of loneliness, social disconnection, and reoffending rates.
What are the two common discourses in post-prison literature discussed in the text?
Gender responsiveness and desistance.
What is the definition of gender responsiveness?
Gender responsiveness refers to policies, programs, and practices that address the specific needs and experiences of women within the criminal justice system. It recognizes that effective justice systems for women should be different from those for men and should provide support for mental health, poverty, trauma, and substance misuse issues.
What is the definition of desistance?
Desistance can be defined as either complete abstinence from criminal offending over a significant period or as a process that includes both stopping and refraining from criminal behavior.
How does gender responsiveness address women’s needs in the criminal justice system?
It recognizes gender-specific needs, supports relationships with children, provides women-oriented staff, and addresses mental health, poverty, trauma, and substance misuse problems.
What are some criticisms of gender-responsive policies and programs?
They can perpetuate prison and punishment, extend state control, and overlook other structural inequalities such as ethnicity and class.
What factors contribute to desistance?
Desistance is influenced by a combination of sociogenic and subjective factors, rather than solely depending on the individual.
What are the criticisms of gender responsiveness?
Critics argue that gender responsiveness often focuses on changing individual behavior, neglecting structural inequalities and complex understandings of crime and punishment.
How have prisons and post-prison programs addressed women’s needs?
Prisons and post-prison programs have been inadequate in addressing women’s needs, with issues such as social and economic marginalization, lack of stable accommodation, and limited social connections persisting.
What alternative approach is proposed to address wider structural inequalities?
Prison abolitionism is suggested as an alternative approach that seeks to decarcerate and ultimately abolish prisons while addressing systemic issues and advocating for criminalized women.
