The Effect of Multiple Types of Intimate Partner Violence on Maternal Criminal Justice Involvement

Men's Economic Abuse Toward Women in Sweden: Findings From a National Survey

Drawing from a nationally representative survey (n = 6,611), this article analyses the prevalence of men's economic abuse toward women in Sweden. Economic abuse is still a relatively marginalized area of research but is increasingly recognized as a distinct type of intimate partner violence. A few Swedish studies have specifically focused on economic abuse, yet none of which with a quantitative approach. A main finding is that motherhood significantly increases the risk of exposure. Furthermore, women report economic abuse from expartners (25%) to a much greater extent than from current partners (8%).

Prevalence and Correlates of Economic Abuse Among Married Women in a Nigerian Population

Economic abuse (EA) is a form of intimate partner violence (IPV) whereby abusers employ various tactics to control their partners' ability to acquire, access, and maintain economic resources thus threatening their economic security and potential for self-sufficiency. It poses a global public health challenge as economic concern is a significant reason for the observed persistent high prevalence of IPV given that even when women want to leave abusive relationships, they are less likely to if they lack the means to cater for themselves and their children upon doing so. However, very few studies in Nigeria have focused on EA. The current study assessed the prevalence and correlates of EA among a Nigerian population of married women. Survey responses of 480 randomly selected married women were used for analysis. The prevalence of EA among respondents was found to be 64.2% while that for emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and physical abuse were 40.2%, 17.3%, and 16.7%, respectively. EA was also found to be significantly associated with other forms of IPV such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. The study findings add to the literature by highlighting the high prevalence of EA among Nigerian women. It also underscores the importance of empowering women to minimize victimization. Study limitations are discussed and directions for future research are presented.

The long-term collateral consequences of juvenile justice involvement for females

Introduction

Females are the fastest growing justice involved population in the United States, yet there is relatively little empirical research on the collateral consequences of juvenile justice involvement specifically for females. A growing body of empirical research underscores linkages between juvenile justice involvement and negative health and psychosocial outcomes, both in the short and long term.

Method

The current study describes the long-term collateral consequences of juvenile justice involvement for females previously involved in the juvenile justice system, drawing from a longitudinal dataset of 166 women who were initially recruited in adolescence due to chronic and severe justice system involvement. Participants were 15 years-old on average at study enrollment and 35 years-old on average at the current assessment. This paper describes the adolescent and adult experiences of the sample, therefore depicting the developmental trajectories of risk and protective factors for females involved with juvenile justice.

Results

As adults, 73% of the sample experienced arrest and 36% experienced incarceration. High rates of mental and physical health problems were reported, including that 50% of the sample met diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder. Over 400 children were born to the sample, with high rates of documented intergenerational child welfare involvement.

Discussion

Study findings are discussed in the context of best practices for supporting adolescent girls involved with the juvenile justice system.

Intimate Partner Violence and Suicidality: Applicability of General Strain Theory to Women in Trinidad and Tobago

Suicide among women is a growing problem in Trinidad and Tobago. Despite efforts to reduce suicide, the etiology of suicidal behaviors in this region has rarely been examined. Using the National Women's Health Survey for Trinidad and Tobago in 2018 (n = 1,079), this study examined the causes of suicidality through concepts contained in Agnew's general strain theory, such as negative stimuli (i.e., intimate partner violence [IPV]) and negative emotion (i.e., depression). By estimating structural equation models, this study found that IPV was strongly related to depression and suicidality. Particularly, depression mediated the effect of IPV on suicidality.

An Injustice to the Justice-Involved: A Brief Report on the Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury on Incarcerated Mothers

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability among young adults worldwide and in the United States. TBIs are often associated with a high prevalence of morbidity, mortality, and other behavioral and cognitive problems. Several studies have shown that women living with TBIs have significantly higher odds of committing criminal acts, yet the impact of TBI on incarcerated women remains an underresearched area. By contrast, the effect of TBI on men is more prevalent in current literature, particularly relating to sports-related injuries. Given that an estimate of 80% of incarcerated women are mothers, we conducted a literature review in two phases focused on TBI in incarcerated mothers. The initial search of TBI in incarcerated mothers returned no results, so we proceeded in two phases. Phase 1 searched maternal outcomes of TBI, using the terms "maternal health" and "traumatic brain injury," whereas Phase 2 searched "traumatic brain injury" and "incarcerated women." Because so little information is available regarding TBI in incarcerated mothers, we used what we could find in these two phases to highlight the scarcity of knowledge about this population. This brief report addresses the knowledge gap that exists for incarcerated mothers living with TBI to encourage regular TBI screening to raise awareness and advocate for accommodated care. Correctional forensic nurses are perfectly placed to do TBI screening and to provide continuous rehabilitation after release to prevent reoffending.

Examining the impact of economic abuse on survivors of intimate partner violence: a scoping review

Background

Economic abuse is a unique form of intimate partner violence (IPV) and includes behaviors that control a survivor’s ability to acquire, use, and maintain resources. These tactics can result in someone becoming economically dependent on their partner and may limit their ability to leave the relationship and establish independence. The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review focused on the impact of economic abuse on survivors of IPV.

Methods

A total of 14 databases were reviewed, which resulted in 35 peer-reviewed manuscripts for inclusion in the study. Manuscripts were included if they were: written in English, published since the year 2000, focused specifically on the impact of economic abuse perpetrated by an intimate partner, economic abuse was measured as an independent variable, and if economic abuse was looked at separately from other forms of IPV. Both convenience and population-based samples were included in the review. Information was extracted using a data charting form. The data were analyzed using a combination of grouping techniques and constant comparison methods to identify key findings.

Results

Studies found significant associations between economic abuse and a range of outcomes, such as mental and physical health, financial impacts, parent-child interactions, and quality of life. The most frequently examined were mental health, followed by financial issues.

Conclusions

Limitations of these studies included a lack of longitudinal research and a focus on heterosexual relationships with male-perpetrated violence toward female survivors. Study findings highlight the wide-ranging potential impacts of economic abuse on survivors and the need for additional research to better understand potential outcomes and implement and evaluate interventions to address them.

Women and Incarceration: Introducing a Gendered Lens into Smart Decarceration

Given the scope of mass incarceration, it is quite appropriate that promote smart decarceration (PSD) has been identified as one of the 13 Grand Challenges for Social Work. The aims of PSD are both ambitious and critical but do not address women explicitly. The authors argue that PSD should incorporate a gendered lens because a gender-responsive framework is critical for these three reasons: (1) women's pathways to incarceration are different than men's and are shaped by their social status and multiple forms of marginalization based on race, socioeconomic status, gender, and other factors; (2) women face gender-specific needs behind bars (especially those related to reproductive health) and have higher rates of behavioral health needs (e.g., mental health disorders, substance use issues) than men; and (3) although men and women face similar reentry challenges (e.g., housing, parenting, economic hardship, behavioral health), women experience many of these risk factors at higher rates, and their social status shapes how these needs impact their reentry. Until social workers and other advocates consider all the various and intersecting identities of all those impacted by the criminal legal system, they will be never be successful in ending mass incarceration.

Slipping through: mobility's influence on infectious disease risks for justice-involved women in Canada

BACKGROUND

The relationship between incarceration and women's vulnerability to sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) is understudied in Canada, despite numerous studies showing that justice-involved women experience very high rates of infection. Justice-involved women in Canada are highly mobile, as a result of high rates of incarceration and extremely short sentences. From a public health perspective, it is productive to understand how the mobility of justice-involved women shapes their vulnerability to STBBI.

RESULTS

This narrative review demonstrates that mobility between incarceration facilities and communities drives sexually transmitted and blood-borne disease risk for justice-involved women in Canada. Associations and interactions between epidemics of gender-based and intimate partner violence, substance use, and STBBIs shape the experiences of justice-involved women in Canada. In correctional facilities, the pre-existing vulnerability of justice-involved women is compounded by a lack of comprehensive STBBI care and limited harm reduction services. On release, unstable housing, disruptions to social support networks, interruptions in medical care, and relapse to or continuation of substance use, significantly increase individual disease risk and the likelihood of community transmission. High rates of incarceration for short periods perpetuate this cycle and complicate the delivery of healthcare.

CONCLUSIONS

The review provides evidence of the need for stronger gender-transformative public health planning and responses for incarcerated women, in both federal and provincial corrections settings in Canada. A supportive, evidence-based approach to STBBI identification and treatment for incarcerated women - one that that removes stigma, maintains privacy and improves access, combined with structural policies to prevent incarceration - could decrease STBBI incidence and interrupt the cycle of incarceration and poor health outcomes. A coordinated and accountable program of reintegration that facilitates continuity of public health interventions for STBBI, as well as safe housing, harm reduction and other supports, can improve outcomes as well. Lastly, metrics to measure performance of STBBI management during incarceration and upon release would help to identify gaps and improve outcomes for justice-involved women in the Canadian context.

THE EFFECT OF HOUSING CIRCUMSTANCES ON RECIDIVISM: Evidence From a Sample of People on Probation in San Francisco

The relationships between housing circumstances and recidivism are well established among people released from prison. Despite probation being far more common than prison or parole, we know little about living situations, homelessness, and residential instability among people on probation, and we know even less regarding how these housing circumstances may affect their risk of recidivism. Using a unique dataset of 2,453 people on probation and longitudinal analyses, this study finds that housing insecurity is common and is associated with an increased risk of recidivism among people on probation, above and beyond an array of other recidivism risk factors. Furthermore, we find housing effects are particularly strong for relatively low risk people and for relatively low-severity offenses (i.e., property crimes, minor crimes, and revocations). Interventions that increase housing access for people on probation may reduce recidivism, especially for those who are relatively low risk and low-level reoffending.