The Forgotten Women: Pregnant and Behind Bars

• In Event: Female Offenders

Abstract

Research about pregnant women in jail is scant. This study begins to fill this gap by examining the characteristics of 27 pregnant women in a large Midwestern jail. These incarcerated pregnant women participated in a larger study in which mothers of minor children were given an initial alcohol and other drug use brief screen using the AUDIT-12. More than half (56%) of the pregnant women scored positive (≥8) using this screen, indicating a strong likelihood of hazardous or harmful substance use. This study describes the demographic characteristics of these pregnant women, as well as their self-reported history of physical health, mental health, substance use treatment, household composition, and income before incarceration. The pre-natal care received by these women before and during incarceration is reported, as well as their post-release plans for living arrangements and assistance for the baby from the father and others. In addition, statistical analyses using Chi-square (χ2) and t-tests are used to compare many of the characteristics of these pregnant women with 240 incarcerated mothers of minor children in the same jail system. Implications of the findings for jail services and reintegration policy and practice for pregnant women and mothers of minor children will be discussed.

Authors

• Susan J. Rose, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

• Thomas P. LeBel, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee