Examining the Relationship Between Sexual and Physical Abuse and Mental Illnesses Among Female Inmates in Southern State

• In Event: Trauma and Victimization among Offenders with Mental Illness

Abstract

The estimated figure for mental health disorders in persons incarcerated in state prisons is more than double the national estimate (56%) and nearly triple for female inmates (73%) (Edwards, 2007). Furthermore, while the percentage of female inmates with a mental health concern has remained over 50 percent, the most common diagnosis for this population were mood disorders and adjustment disorders. Additionally, not only have the female population increased over the years, the rates of sexual and physical victimization reported by incarcerated females is rapidly reaching 75 percent. Using data from a southern state, the current study examined the correlates of mental health among the female inmate population focusing specifically on the correlation between past physical and sexual abuse and current mental health diagnosis.

Authors

• Josie Klepper, East Tennessee State University

• Jennifer Pealer, East Tennessee State University

• Nicole Prior, East Tennessee State University