Prison has Nothing on This: Parenting and Reentry Experiences for Justice-involved Women and Their Children

• In Event: Women, Gender, and the Justice System

Abstract

Along with the recent growth in the female incarceration rate has come an increase in the number of justice-involved mothers who are separated from their children. This paper examines the consequences of this separation and its effects on reentry experiences for these mothers and their children in Portland, Oregon. Longitudinal data collection focused on semi-structured interviews with recently incarcerated mothers, inquiring about relationships with their children before and after incarceration and the barriers to successful reintegration into the community after release. Results show that mothering after reentry has different meaning and consequences for those who had close contact with their children during incarceration compared to those who did not.

Authors

• Melissa Thompson, Portland State University

• Summer Newell, Portland State University