Risk Profiles of Women Experiencing Initial and Repeat Incarcerations: Implications for Prevention Programs

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Incarcerated women face complex challenges contributing to arrest and rearrest.
• Understanding risk profiles is crucial for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine risk profiles differentiating first-time incarcerated women from those with repeat incarcerations.
• To identify specific factors associated with repeat incarceration in women.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 521 incarcerated women in North Carolina.
• Data collected on socio-demographics, economic factors, behaviors, STDs, victimization, and mental health.
• Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• Women with repeat incarcerations reported significantly higher economic instability, substance use, and sexual risk behaviors.
• Repeat incarceration was associated with higher rates of laboratory-confirmed STDs and history of victimization (childhood and adulthood).
• Multivariable analysis identified unstable housing, injection drug use, crack cocaine use, concurrent partners, and childhood sexual victimization as key predictors.

Conclusions:

• Repeat incarceration in women is linked to a distinct set of risk factors including economic instability, substance use, and victimization.
• Findings underscore the need for tailored prevention and intervention strategies addressing these specific vulnerabilities within the female prison population.
• Addressing these issues can inform the development of programs aimed at reducing rearrest rates among incarcerated women.