Sense of Community of Young Women in Custody

Abstract

(from the chapter) Anecdotal evidence and observations in Harris Correctional Facility' demonstrate that strong attachments that many young women (aged 10-21 yrs) appeared to develop while at Harris. These observations suggested that there might be a relationship between the residents' sense of community while in Harris, their ability to successfully reintegrate into the general community, and their rates of recidivism. These factors appeared to be further complicated by a lack of sense of community in the external environment, loneliness, and histories of abuse, trauma and instability. This research reported here explores these observations and investigates the relationship between sense of community in Harris, and external sense of community, loneliness, recidivism and reintegration on release. In this chapter, the authors explore the idea that young women in custody develop a sense of community with other residents, as well as with the staff. The chapter examines how these factors relate to the women's adjustment in the custodial setting, their rehabilitation and likely recidivism, and sources of community and support external to the prison. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) (chapter)