Post-Prison Experiences

Question 1

Homelessness

Answer 1

A common issue faced by individuals post-prison, with reports of up to 60% of women experiencing homelessness upon release.

Question 2

Social Marginalisation

Answer 2

Individuals who have been in prison are socially and economically marginalized, disproportionately to the general population.

Question 3

Lack of education and formal qualifications

Answer 3

Post-prison experiences often involve limited access to education and formal qualifications, posing challenges for employment opportunities.

Question 4

Poverty and health problems

Answer 4

Post-prison individuals frequently experience poverty and health issues, further exacerbating their challenges.

Question 5

Disproportionate impact on individuals

Answer 5

The issues faced post-prison often impact individuals disproportionately within the general population.

Question 6

Historical male-centric prison literature

Answer 6

Traditional prison literature has primarily focused on male experiences, neglecting the analysis of female post-prison experiences.

Question 7

Inadequacy of prisons in addressing social problems

Answer 7

Prisons are found to be insufficient in addressing complex social problems faced by individuals, leading to continued marginalization post-release.

Question 8

Socioeconomic inequality and barriers

Answer 8

Socioeconomic marginalization poses barriers to suitable accommodation, employment, education, and health services for post-prison individuals.

Question 9

Loss of income and housing due to imprisonment

Answer 9

Imprisonment often results in the loss of income and housing for individuals, making post-release stability challenging.

Question 10

Challenges in establishing income, housing, and social connections

Answer 10

Post-release, individuals face difficulties in rebuilding income, finding housing, and reconnecting with family and social networks.

Question 11

Additional challenges for women

Answer 11

Women face specific challenges, including psychological impacts, economic instability, lack of access to housing and health services, stigma, and navigating complex systems.

Question 12

Higher marginalization experienced by women post-prison

Answer 12

Women who have been in prison are more likely to experience higher levels of marginalization compared to men who have been incarcerated.

Question 13

Over-incarceration of Indigenous women in Aotearoa New Zealand

Answer 13

Indigenous women in Aotearoa New Zealand are disproportionately represented in the prison population, leading to higher post-prison challenges.

Question 14

Limited evaluations of post-prison services in Aotearoa New Zealand

Answer 14

There is a lack of comprehensive evaluations of post-prison programs and their effectiveness, especially concerning women’s experiences.

Question 15

Issues with housing access and support after release

Answer 15

Access to stable housing is a significant challenge for individuals post-prison, particularly for women who face additional gendered factors.

Question 16

Prevalence of homelessness after release

Answer 16

Many individuals experience homelessness after release, with reports of frequent moves and inadequate access to stable housing.

Question 17

Lack of information and support for accessing housing

Answer 17

Released individuals often lack information and support on accessing appropriate housing, contributing to their difficulties.

Question 18

Barriers to housing access: expensive housing, insecure income, and stigma

Answer 18

Factors such as expensive housing, insecure income, and the stigma associated with a prison record make accessing suitable housing challenging for post-prison individuals.

Question 19

What is a significant issue in women’s prisons?

Answer 19

Physical and geographical separation

Question 20

What are the challenges faced by post-prison support organizations?

Answer 20

Underfunding and lack of resources

Question 21

What is necessary to provide access to housing and support for women post-release?

Answer 21

Substantial coordination between those in prison, prison staff, and post-prison support agencies.

Question 22

What type of housing is preferred for women post-release?

Answer 22

Better long-term housing options rather than emergency or precarious short-term housing.

Question 23

How does access to suitable housing benefit women post-release?

Answer 23

It contributes to reducing reoffending rates, provides safety from abusive relationships, and enables focus on health and family reconnections

Question 24

What should good support for accommodation include?

Answer 24

Recognizing women’s individual needs, such as housing close to family or the ability to relocate away from unsupportive relationships.

Question 25

What are some organizations in New Zealand that provide post-prison accommodation and support for women?

Answer 25

The Grace Foundation, Reclaim Another Woman, the Salvation Army, Anglican Action, and other NGOs.

Question 26

What role does social connection play in post-prison support for women?

Answer 26

It helps build self-identity, self-confidence, healthy family and community relationships, and aids in meeting long-term re-integrative needs.

Question 27

How can peer support contribute to effective support for women post-prison?

Answer 27

Peer support from those with lived experiences of incarceration helps address feelings of loneliness, social disconnection, and reoffending rates.

Question 28

What are the two common discourses in post-prison literature discussed in the text?

Answer 28

Gender responsiveness and desistance.

Question 29

What is the definition of gender responsiveness?

Answer 29

Gender responsiveness refers to policies, programs, and practices that address the specific needs and experiences of women within the criminal justice system. It recognizes that effective justice systems for women should be different from those for men and should provide support for mental health, poverty, trauma, and substance misuse issues.

Question 30

What is the definition of desistance?

Answer 30

Desistance can be defined as either complete abstinence from criminal offending over a significant period or as a process that includes both stopping and refraining from criminal behavior.

Question 31

How does gender responsiveness address women’s needs in the criminal justice system?

Answer 31

It recognizes gender-specific needs, supports relationships with children, provides women-oriented staff, and addresses mental health, poverty, trauma, and substance misuse problems.

Question 32

What are some criticisms of gender-responsive policies and programs?

Answer 32

They can perpetuate prison and punishment, extend state control, and overlook other structural inequalities such as ethnicity and class.

Question 33

What factors contribute to desistance?

Answer 33

Desistance is influenced by a combination of sociogenic and subjective factors, rather than solely depending on the individual.

Question 34

What are the criticisms of gender responsiveness?

Answer 34

Critics argue that gender responsiveness often focuses on changing individual behavior, neglecting structural inequalities and complex understandings of crime and punishment.

Question 35

How have prisons and post-prison programs addressed women’s needs?

Answer 35

Prisons and post-prison programs have been inadequate in addressing women’s needs, with issues such as social and economic marginalization, lack of stable accommodation, and limited social connections persisting.

Question 36

What alternative approach is proposed to address wider structural inequalities?

Answer 36

Prison abolitionism is suggested as an alternative approach that seeks to decarcerate and ultimately abolish prisons while addressing systemic issues and advocating for criminalized women.