Responding to the Comprehensive Needs of Incarcerated Women: Management and Treatment Challenges

Abstract

HIV treatment and prevention programs for incarcerated women must take into consideration their many social, psychological, and structural needs. In order to provide a context for the discussion of HIV infection among incarcerated women, this article reviews the characteristics and needs of this population, and describes one correctional facility’s comprehensive program of rehabilitation. Data from the women’s unit of the Hampden County Correctional Center (HCCC) in Ludlow, Massachusetts found that 75 percent of women reported histories of sexual and physical violence, 82 percent were arrested for drug offenses, 15 percent had severe mental illness, 50 percent reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, 33 percent were homeless upon arrest, and 85 percent were mothers. Staff reported that inmates who revealed to them that they were HIV positive represented rates of about 34 percent. Informed by these data describing the special characteristics of incarcerated women, HCCC incorporated gender-sensitive direct supervision techniques, team management approaches, and innovative programs, including substance abuse treatment, psycho-educational groups, and discharge planning in a smooth blend of security and human service.

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