1. Michelle Carr
Invisible Victims Conference
May 2013

2. “A women’s sense of self becomes very much
organized around being able to make and then to
maintain affiliation and relationships Eventually for
many women the threat of disruption of connections is
perceived not just as a loss of a relationship, but as
something closer to a total loss of self.”
[p. 83]

3.  On average three changes of carer before the age of
sixteen
 More than 60% -80% women in secure care have
been sexually abused during childhood
 Had experienced five negative life events prior to
incarceration (Slotboom et al., 2011)
 Victims of DV as teenagers and adults (with children
present?)

4. The women flooding our criminal justice system
are mostly young, poor, and undereducated,
with complex histories of trauma and addiction.
Her involvement in crime is often economically
motivated, driven by poverty and /or substance
abuse. Most are nonviolent and pose no threat
to the community.
[Covington & Bloom, 2003]

5.  The Thematic Review in to women in prison
(2010) reported that 55% of women in prison have
children under the age of eighteen.
 76.5% of the women had assumed day to day
responsibility for their child’s care prior to
incarceration.
 91.1% had contact with children at least once a
week prior to incarceration. (Houck & Loper,
2002).

6.  Most representations of incarcerated women portray
them as inadequate, incompetent mothers who are
unable to provide adequately for the needs of their
children (Coll et al., 1998).
 Despite the fact that many women are sole carers for
children, only 30% of women in 2006–08 said that staff
had checked whether they had any problems ensuring
dependants were being looked after. Thematic Review
(2010)

7.  “A woman forms her identity in relation to others,
and to strip a woman of this and subsequently
expose her to a psychologically negative, stressful
environment can be devastating, highlighting how
harmful separation from dependants and social
support networks can be for women”.

8.  Difficulties voiced by the women in services
 Misdemeanours
 Coping strategies
 These women can be re-traumatised by common
institutional practices in prison and hospital.

9.  “Female pseudofamilies have not only parents
and children but also grandparents, aunts, and
cousins. The families incorporate the jealousy and
role-playing found in traditional male-female
relationships. They provide a meaningful social life
and interpersonal support for the prisoners”
[p.411]

10.  Developmental/ Biological Theories
 Attachment Theory/ Relational Theory
 The Tilt Review (2000)
 Women’s mental health: Into the mainstream, strategic
development of mental health care for women. DoH (2002)
 Mainstreaming gender and women’s mental health:
Implementation guidance. DoH (2003)
 The Corston Report (2007)
 Thematic Review in to Women's Prisons (2010)
 Not Seen. Not Heard. Not Guilty (2008)

11. “Many women still define themselves and are defined
by others by their role in the family. It is an
important component in our sense of identity and
self esteem. To become a prisoner is almost by
definition to become a bad mother. If she has a
husband or partner then again almost by definition
she will become a bad wife or partner. Separating
her from her family is for many the equivalent of
separating a man from his job.”
[p.20]

18.  PTSD→ dissociation, auditory & visual hallucinations
 Emotional state –depression, anxiety, anger
 Affect regulation
 Self view → low self esteem guilt, shame
 Self-harm
 Behaviour –sexualised, disruptive
 Social interaction → Abusive relationships
 Cognitive and Educational Progress
 Psychiatric disorders (e.g. ADHD, autism)
 Developmental Milestones →Growth, eating, sleep
 Non-organic physical problems (including somatic symptomology, wetting
and soiling)
 Identity

19.  Behavioural disturbances →
Difficult for caregivers to
manage → Various
placements
 Peer
victimization
→ Mistrustful
of others
 Lower levels of
supervision →
Higher levels of
riskier behaviours

20.  Consistent caregivers → Family members
 Stable, safe home environment
 Levels of resilience
 Level of understanding/ cognitive ability
 Maintaining contact with mother
 Having a confidant
 Positive peer support and understanding
 Identifying with non-criminal lifestyles
 Large repertoire of coping strategies

21. UK
 Strip searching abolished
 Therapeutic Communities
 First night and arrival procedures
 Gender – Responsive Programs
 Helping Women Recover
 The Sanctuary Model
 Women in Prison

22.  Staff should have made an active choice to work
with women and have an understanding of gender
issues and empowerment, in addition to having
the requisite clinical skills.
 Individuals working with women and children who
have been separated must develop a shared
understanding of the complex relationships and
psychopathology of all individuals involved.

23. Each of us is inextricably bound to others. All human
action, (even the act of a single individual) is relational.
Gilligan, 1996