Does Being A Mother Ever Work Against A Criminal Woman?

This review focuses on the experiences of mothering from prison while separated from one’s child(ren), a vulnerable group often with a history of abuse, out-of-home care, mental health problems, and unemployment. Women in prison are often single mothers with a history of criminalization, and their experiences of motherhood after prison are rarely studied. The experiences of imprisoned women may differ, but they often lack flexibility and gender sensitive working in probation delivery.

Motherhood is both the source of a perceived failing and ofered redemp-tion for incarcerated women. Maternal imprisonment negatively impacts mothers and their children and is likely to have lifelong and intergenerational sequelae. Research reveals that women offenders have high levels of concern for their children’s well-being, which may give them a sense of purpose and reduce their risk of recidivism. However, children of female inmates are five times more likely to be incarcerated than those of other children.

Feminist, gender responsive research has found that motherhood is central to the narratives of incarcerated women. Convictions can eliminate helpful government aid programs and other opportunities, making it difficult for female offenders both in terms of their experiences. Mothering before and during custody using the Gendered Pathways Perspective can damage women, destroy families, and sometimes set whole families on pathways to vulnerability and criminality. Of the women in prison, 66% are mothers of dependent children.

In conclusion, the experiences of mothering from prison are often overlooked, and their impact on mothers and their children is significant.