Prison Power and Control Dynamics: Incarcerated Mothers' Experiences of Economic Restriction and Economic
Gina L Fedock1, Celina M Doria2, Sheila Shankar1
1Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Violence Against Women
|June 20, 2025
Summary
Incarcerated mothers experience economic abuse mirroring intimate partner violence, including overcharging, exploitation, and paying to parent. These state violence dynamics are linked to sexual abuse by staff.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Incarceration dynamics often mirror intimate partner violence (IPV) power and control dynamics.
- State violence within correctional facilities disproportionately affects marginalized populations, including incarcerated mothers.
- Economic abuse is a recognized component of IPV, but its parallels within the carceral system are less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the economic dynamics of incarceration experienced by mothers.
- To explore how these economic dynamics resemble forms of economic abuse.
- To understand the intersection of economic abuse, state violence, and sexual abuse within prisons.
Main Methods:
- Constant comparative analysis of incarcerated mothers' experiences.
- Qualitative research methodology to explore lived experiences.
- Thematic analysis to identify patterns of economic exploitation and abuse.
Main Results:
- Identified four key economic dynamics: prison overcharging/underfunding, staff-led economic exploitation, racialized economic restriction impacting Black mothers, and mothers paying to parent.
- These economic dynamics were interconnected with sexual abuse perpetrated by prison staff.
- Findings highlight the multifaceted nature of state violence within the carceral system.
Conclusions:
- The economic dynamics of incarceration constitute a form of state violence and economic abuse against mothers.
- Understanding these parallels is crucial for addressing systemic inequalities and abuse within prisons.
- Interventions are needed to disrupt these cycles of violence and exploitation.
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