Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter
THE INCARCERATION of women may have a devastating impact on their children's academic, emotional and social life, according to a study commissioned by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).
The study, entitled 'Women in Prison: The Impact of the Incarceration of Jamaican Women on Themselves and Their Families', was conducted between 2002 and 2003.
Fifty incarcerated women at Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre in St. Catherine, 50 recently released inmates, 44 children of local inmates and 25 children of inmates incarcerated abroad were interviewed.
EMOTIONALLY DISTRESSED
Principal investigator, Dr. Aldrie Henry-Lee, noted that 54 per cent of the women reported that their children cried and were emotionally distressed when they learnt about their mothers' incarceration. Other negative impacts, she said, include juvenile delinquency, early pregnancy, deterioration of schoolwork, economic deprivation and maltreatment by guardian.
Dr. Henry-Lee was speaking yesterday during the launch of the study, at PIOJ's offices in New Kingston.
She said 86 per cent of the current inmates were incarcerated because of drug offences, while the main reason, she said, given for committing a crime was economic deprivation.
Dr. Henry-Lee pointed out that by United Nations standards, the prison conditions at Fort Augusta are not suitable for inmates. She noted that 94 per cent of the inmates found the condition very poor.
Rodent problems, inadequate food, overcrowding in the cells, shortage of beds and bad treatment by the warders were also some of their concerns.
Dr. Henry-Lee said rehabilitation in prison is almost non-existent and reintegration is problematic.
"All we do here is grow anger," said an inmate. "When we come out we will be worse than we come in."
Study recommendations
Strengthening the justice system - sentencing process.
Improving prison conditions.
Improving rehabilitation and work programmes.
