Mothering with mental illness: How women on mental health caseloads in the criminal justice system discuss motherhood

• In Event: Special Populations of Offenders with Mental Illness

Abstract

As the number of women entering the criminal justice system has grown substantially due to the policies of mass incarceration, the prevalence of children and mothers impacted by criminal justice involvement has also increased. In an effort to expand upon prior work, this paper seeks to examine a specific subset of these mothers – those with significant and long-term mental illness. The current study explores how women with mental illness in the criminal justice system describe their experiences and thoughts about mothering through semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted with women on a significantly mentally ill (SMI) caseload in Phoenix Arizona (n = 65). Using open and axial coding techniques the authors consider themes that develop involving what it means for these women “to mother” in addition to the double-binds of stigmatization and control they experience as mothers in the criminal justice system.

Authors

• Philip Mulvey, Illinois State University

• Cailin Mcdermott, Illinois State University

• Cara Rabe-Hemp, Illinois State University