Partner Violence, Depression, and Recidivism: The Case of Incarcerated Women and Why We Need Programs Designed for Them

Abstract

The number of women in prison in the United States has been growing rapidly over the last 30 years. A large percentage of the incarcerated women have been victimized by violent partners and family members. Some of these women have been forced with threats of violence by their abusers to participate in illegal activities. Most of the women have children and many of the women will never see their children while in prison. Incarcerated women who have experienced intimate partner violence are at risk for depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide. Recidivism for women prisoners is associated with depression. In spite of the cost of recidivism and the growing overcrowded conditions in women's prisons, there are no known studies in the literature that test the effectiveness of a gender-sensitive intervention to reduce depression in incarcerated women as a means of reducing recidivism. The purpose of this paper is to illuminate the need for an effective cognitive therapy program that is designed specifically to reduce women's depression by raising awareness of inherited negative messages, affirmation of self and others, and empowerment through goal setting. The INSIGHT program is introduced as an example of a gender-sensitive program.