INSIDE VOICESINSIDE VOICES

Lori A. RinehartLori A. RinehartDr. Kathy FejesDr. Kathy FejesGender Specific Services Task ForceGender Specific Services Task ForceOctober 12, 2007October 12, 2007

69 women and young women interviewed.69 women and young women interviewed. The Iowa Correctional Institution for Women – The Iowa Correctional Institution for Women –

Therapeutic Community - MitchellvilleTherapeutic Community - Mitchellville Forest Ridge Youth Services - EsthervilleForest Ridge Youth Services - Estherville The Iowa Juvenile Home/Girls State Training The Iowa Juvenile Home/Girls State Training

School - ToledoSchool - Toledo Horizons – Cedar RapidsHorizons – Cedar Rapids

Six broad questions Six broad questions were asked.were asked.

Stories were told.Stories were told.Information was Information was

recorded.recorded.

Question # ONEQuestion # ONE

Tell me about what you were doing/thinking Tell me about what you were doing/thinking just prior to committing the crime for just prior to committing the crime for which you were incarcerated/placed?which you were incarcerated/placed?

17 out of the 69 reported being alone when 17 out of the 69 reported being alone when they committed their offense. The they committed their offense. The majority of those who were with others majority of those who were with others were with males.were with males.

What were you thinking…What were you thinking…continuedcontinued

The use of drugs and/or alcohol were a The use of drugs and/or alcohol were a factor for 48 of the 69 women factor for 48 of the 69 women interviewed. The 18 adult women interviewed. The 18 adult women interviewed were in the Therapeutic interviewed were in the Therapeutic Community Program because of Community Program because of addiction issues. addiction issues.

30 of the 51 young women reported the 30 of the 51 young women reported the use of alcohol and/or drugs.use of alcohol and/or drugs.

What were you thinking…What were you thinking…continuedcontinued

11 talked about gang affiliation11 talked about gang affiliation

11 talked specifically about unhealthy 11 talked specifically about unhealthy relationshipsrelationships

19 admitted to stupidity or incorrect thinking19 admitted to stupidity or incorrect thinking

Most took responsibility for their actions.Most took responsibility for their actions.

Question # TwoQuestion # Two

Tell me about what happened during the Tell me about what happened during the arrest that led to your arrest that led to your incarceration/placement? incarceration/placement?

Describe the specific circumstances and Describe the specific circumstances and your treatment by police. your treatment by police.

Describe how you treated police during the Describe how you treated police during the arrest/being taken into custody?arrest/being taken into custody?

Treatment by PoliceTreatment by Police

28 reported that the police tried to help. 28 reported that the police tried to help. Many experienced positive treatment.Many experienced positive treatment.

9 reported that the police were mean or 9 reported that the police were mean or abusive verballyabusive verbally

22 reported that the police handled the 22 reported that the police handled the situation with physical interventionsituation with physical intervention

Treatment of PoliceTreatment of Police

22 reported they were verbally abusive to 22 reported they were verbally abusive to policepolice

17 reported they were physically 17 reported they were physically aggressiveaggressive

Many commented that they complied with Many commented that they complied with whatever was expected of them.whatever was expected of them.

Question # ThreeQuestion # Three

For what crime were you For what crime were you incarcerated/placed? incarcerated/placed?

What were the specific What were the specific charges?charges?

Crimes…Crimes…

The crimes reported included:The crimes reported included: Adults: parole violation, forgery, fraud, OWI, Adults: parole violation, forgery, fraud, OWI,

possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy and possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy and manufacturing meth, assault, weapons.manufacturing meth, assault, weapons.

Juveniles: running away, truancy, shoplifting, criminal Juveniles: running away, truancy, shoplifting, criminal mischief, interference with official acts, auto theft, mischief, interference with official acts, auto theft, forgery, public intoxication, possession of alcohol, forgery, public intoxication, possession of alcohol, possession of drugs, possession with intent to deliver, possession of drugs, possession with intent to deliver, assault, assault with a deadly weapon, concealed assault, assault with a deadly weapon, concealed weapon.weapon.

Question # FourQuestion # Four

Tell me about your legal representation.Tell me about your legal representation.

Almost 80% of the women interviewed were Almost 80% of the women interviewed were represented by public defenders/court represented by public defenders/court appointed attorneys.appointed attorneys.

Over 55% were represented by male attorneys.Over 55% were represented by male attorneys.

About 35% felt they were represented by a About 35% felt they were represented by a competent attorney.competent attorney.

Attorney continued…Attorney continued…

The biggest complaint about attorneys was that The biggest complaint about attorneys was that they spent very little time with them. “I only they spent very little time with them. “I only saw them in court.”saw them in court.”

The young women who spoke well of their The young women who spoke well of their attorneys talked about having a relationship attorneys talked about having a relationship with their attorney (she calls and checks in) with their attorney (she calls and checks in) and that she felt like someone was advocating and that she felt like someone was advocating for them.for them.

Question # FiveQuestion # Five

Tell me about your trial/hearing. Rate it Tell me about your trial/hearing. Rate it from 1-5 with 1 being fair, impartial an from 1-5 with 1 being fair, impartial an speedy and 5 being unfair, biased and speedy and 5 being unfair, biased and very slow.very slow.

Almost 70% of the women interviewed Almost 70% of the women interviewed rated their hearing a 1, 2 or 3.rated their hearing a 1, 2 or 3.

Hearing/Trial…What was Hearing/Trial…What was the worst thing about it?the worst thing about it?

The majority of women interviewed responded to this The majority of women interviewed responded to this question by talking about family…question by talking about family…

““Not being able to say goodbye to my family.”Not being able to say goodbye to my family.”““Everyone being disappointed in me.”Everyone being disappointed in me.”““Hearing my mother agree with the sentence.”Hearing my mother agree with the sentence.”““Hearing my parents say they couldn’t handle me at Hearing my parents say they couldn’t handle me at

home.”home.”““Having to call my mom and tell her.”Having to call my mom and tell her.”““Leaving my daughter.”Leaving my daughter.”““Mom was upset.”Mom was upset.”Seeing the disappointment on my dad’s face.”Seeing the disappointment on my dad’s face.”

But for some…But for some…

The worst thing was…The worst thing was…““Realizing that money can’t get me out of this.”Realizing that money can’t get me out of this.”

““Not knowing they were thinking about trying me Not knowing they were thinking about trying me as an adult.”as an adult.”

““Being lied to.”Being lied to.”

““Being tricked.”Being tricked.”

““Dealing with a charge I never really committed.”Dealing with a charge I never really committed.”

Hearing/Trial – Has anything Hearing/Trial – Has anything positive come out of this?positive come out of this?

Again – the majority of women interviewed Again – the majority of women interviewed talked about relationships…talked about relationships…

““I’ve built good relationships – my family is coming I’ve built good relationships – my family is coming together.”together.”

““Having people at IJH who care about me.”Having people at IJH who care about me.”““Re-establishing relationships.”Re-establishing relationships.”““Improved relationship with my mom and sister.”Improved relationship with my mom and sister.”““The relationship with my mom – maintaining trust.”The relationship with my mom – maintaining trust.”

What positive has What positive has happened? (cont.)happened? (cont.)

Still others were grateful for the chance this Still others were grateful for the chance this gave them…gave them…

““Going to IJH has been the best thing that has Going to IJH has been the best thing that has happened to me.”happened to me.”

““I’m alive and sober.”I’m alive and sober.”““I can now admit to addictions and can change.”I can now admit to addictions and can change.”““I’ve had a big turn around…wanting to change I’ve had a big turn around…wanting to change

and learning tools.”and learning tools.”““I’ve realized the opportunities that are there.”I’ve realized the opportunities that are there.”

Question # SixQuestion # Six

Describe life on the inside of the Describe life on the inside of the facility?facility?

Rate life on the inside from 1-5 with 1 being the Rate life on the inside from 1-5 with 1 being the most horrible conditions imaginable and 5 being a most horrible conditions imaginable and 5 being a safe environment with opportunities to become a safe environment with opportunities to become a better personbetter person

77% of the participants rated their facility as a 4 or 77% of the participants rated their facility as a 4 or 5.5.

Staff…Staff…

Tell me about the staff who work at the Tell me about the staff who work at the facility?facility?

Overwhelmingly the women interviewed felt the staff that Overwhelmingly the women interviewed felt the staff that work with them are kind, caring, won’t give up on them. work with them are kind, caring, won’t give up on them. They feel heard and listened to. The women They feel heard and listened to. The women appreciate the diversity of staff – age, race, appreciate the diversity of staff – age, race, perspectives.perspectives.

There are some staff that, according to the women There are some staff that, according to the women interviewed are only working there for the money, play interviewed are only working there for the money, play favorites, and don’t care.favorites, and don’t care.

What do they need to What do they need to succeed?succeed?

Transition planning and support when they leaveTransition planning and support when they leave The boys to be goneThe boys to be gone Being able to get the services needed while there Being able to get the services needed while there

(classes – educational)(classes – educational) AA/NA meetings on siteAA/NA meetings on site MentorsMentors More issue driven groups – anger, eating disordersMore issue driven groups – anger, eating disorders Better school schedulingBetter school scheduling Sports teamsSports teams Able to wear sweat pants and make-upAble to wear sweat pants and make-up

ReflectionsReflections

Drug and alcohol use play a huge role – Drug and alcohol use play a huge role – better prevention and treatment services better prevention and treatment services are neededare needed

Young women are experiencing many Young women are experiencing many placements – we’ve got to do better for placements – we’ve got to do better for themthem

Training for staffTraining for staff Transition, transition, transitionTransition, transition, transition