Female Offenders, HIV Peer Programs, and Attachment: The Importance of Prison-Based Civilian Staff in Creating Opportunities to Cultivate Prosocial Behaviors

Abstract

As women commit to a conventional lifestyle, the bond of attachment becomes a fundamental component in sustaining the desistance process. If weak attachments in the community cannot be replaced or enhanced with the cultivation of strong conventional attachments while incarcerated, female offenders will leave prison without a supportive network. Strong social networks and a high level of social capital are essential for female offenders to reintegrate successfully; if social bonds are constructed before release, there is a greater chance of maintaining a crime-free lifestyle. One way to cultivate strong bonds of attachment during incarceration is through prison-based programming. This qualitative study, based on the narratives of 49 female offenders, examines the potential for inmates to form prosocial attachments with staff in two HIV prison-based peer programs in New York State. Strong attachments were formed between the inmates and civilian staff during incarceration, maintained upon release, and served to reinforce the establishment of bourgeoning conventional identities. The dedication and commitment of the civilian staff, and the support they provided to the inmates, was essential to achieving both rehabilitative and reintegrative goals.

Exploring the Utilization of Structural and Medical Family Therapy With an Incarcerated Mother Living With HIV

“…"Strong social networks and a high level of 'social capital' are essential for female offenders to reintegrate successfully" (Collica-Cox, 2018;Reisig, Holtfreter, & Morash, 2002;Rocque, Bierie, Posick, & Mackenzie, 2013, p. 525). Communication between incarcerated individuals and their families have been shown to maintain or improve their relationships while incarcerated (Song, Woo, Lee, & Cochran, 2018).…”

Spotlighting the probation meeting – Lived experiences of desistance-supporting interaction following imprisonment

“…Harald underlined that this was something the parole worker wanted to do, not something she had to do. The value of such continued relationships for desistance processes in resettlement contexts has been pointed out by Collica-Cox (2018) and Meek and Lewis (2014). Their studies relate to the experience of establishing post-release support, to enable people to have someone they knew and trusted in the community.…”

Redes personales como factores de riesgo y protección en mujeres privadas de libertad

“…Uno de los factores clave de protección en semilibertad que influye en el éxito de la reinserción de las mujeres es la conformación y mantenimiento de nuevas redes personales, las cuales dan lugar al acceso de más recursos materiales y emocionales, mejoran la calidad de vida y previenen la reincidencia (Berg & Huebner, 2011;Bui & Morash, 2010;Cochran, 2014;Collica-Cox, 2018;Maidment, 2006;O´Brien, 2001).…”

“…Derivado de dichos estudios, un campo emergente y fundamental lo constituyen las relaciones y la influencia de las redes sociales personales de las mujeres para favorecer u obstaculizar los procesos de reinserción (Atkin & Armstrong, 2018;Berman, 2005;Bui & Morash, 2010;Clone & Dehart, 2014;Collica-Cox, 2018;Covington, 2003;Fernández et al, 2008;García-Vita, 2017;O´Brien, 2001). En consecuencia, estas relaciones pueden…”