Victoria E. Brewer

Assessing the relationship between child sexual abuse and marginal living conditions on HIV/AIDS-related risk behavior among women prisoners

OBJECTIVE There were two aims in this research. First, to examine the relationships between childhood sexual abuse and HIV drug and sexual risk taking behaviors among female prisoners, and second, to examine the relationship between a marginal adult living context and HIV drug and sexual risk taking behavior among female prisoners. METHOD The data were collected through face-to-face interviews with a random sample of 500 women at admission to prison in 1994. Differences between women who were sexually abused while growing up (n = 130) were compared to women who reported no sexual abuse (n = 370) along various demographic, and HIV drug and sexual risk taking dimensions. RESULTS A history of sexual abuse while growing up was associated with increased sexual risk taking behaviors in adulthood. A marginal adult living situation also emerged as an important factor increasing the risk for HIV infection. Examining the co-occurrence of both childhood sexual abuse and adult marginal living context revealed a strong relationship between these two factors and HIV risk taking activities. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that childhood sexual abuse may be a predictor for HIV sexual risk taking behaviors among incarcerated women. The marginal and chaotic adult living style of these women was also associated the extent of their HIV drug and sexual risk taking behaviors. Our research suggests that the co-occurrence of sexual victimization and marginality is a stronger predictor of HIV risk than each variable alone.

A comparison of U.S. and Canadian findings on Uxoricide risk for women with children sired by previous partners

The 1997 work of Daly, Wiseman and Wilson concludes that women with children from previous intimate partners were at significantly higher risk of murder by present partners than women whose children were the offspring of their current partner. Using an evolutionary psychological perspective, Daly et al. found that, among Hamilton, Ontarios population of women with male partners and coresident minor children, 7% had children who were not those of the current partner. Yet such women accounted for 50% of all uxoricides (wife killings). The present research replicates that study for Houston, Texas during 1985 to 1994. Our analysis reveals that families including minor step-children represented less than 20% of the citys two-parent households at large; yet 48% of all uxoricides were of women with coresident minor children from previous partners. These studies lend strong support to evolutionary psychological theories of homicide. Some implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Capital Punishment and Deterrence: Examining the Effect of Executions on Murder in Texas

This study tested the deterrence hypothesis in Texas, the most active execution jurisdiction during the modern era. Using monthly observations during 1984 through 1997, both the general relationship between executions and murder rates and the specific relationship between executions and felony murder rates were examined. An initial bivariate relationship between executions and murder rates proved to be spurious when appropriate control variables were included in regression models. Within a context so ideally suited for finding any potential deterrent effects, this study confirmed the results of previous ones that failed to find any evidence of deterrence resulting from capital punishment.

Health risk as an emerging field within the new penology

Abstract It is persuasively argued that a new vision of penology is emerging based on offender classification techniques in which offenders are rationally distributed into groups according to the degree of control warranted by their risk profiles. This article extends the concept of risk within the new penology framework to include health risk. Data from female prisoners showed that many of the women in the sample had at one time in their lives acquired sexually transmitted diseases, had engaged in high-risk sexual activities, and drug taking behavior. Community health agents and social workers will emerge as control agents to supervise prisoners in the free community with public health risk profiles.

Lifestyle factors among female prisoners with histories of psychiatric treatment

Abstract This study compared the childhood and adult living contexts, patterns of alcohol and drug use, and criminal involvement of women prisoners with histories of mental health treatment in the free community to those who have not accessed such services. A random sample of 500 women prisoners was interviewed during the intake and admission process. Respondents who have used mental services were typically older White women, undereducated, unemployed, and had children. Subjects who used mental health services were more likely to have histories of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin abuse. Women who have used mental services were more likely to have been incarcerated for nonviolent offenses. As more female offenders enter prison with various mental health needs, prison organizations will be called on to improve their techniques for identifying women who have had prior contacts with mental health services.

The Implications of Crime Control Policy on HIV/AIDS-Related Risk among Women Prisoners

This study examined the relationship between offense, prior drug taking, and HIV/AIDS-related risk behavior among women prisoners. Women drug offenders in this study engaged in numerous high-risk drug and sexual behaviors. Many had engaged in injection drug use and prostitution. Recent drug control policies, grounded in deterrence and based on harsh legal penalties, have led to the incarceration of numerous offenders who are low criminal risks but represent major public health risks on release. Criminal justice policies penalizing drug users may be contributing factors to the spread of HIV infection in the wider society.

AIDS-Related Risk Behavior among Female Prisoners with Histories of Mental Impairment

This article highlights the need for correctional policy to address health education and self-efficacy training, as well as treatment of chemical dependence, among female prisoners with histories of psychological impairments and high-risk HIV-related behaviors. The authors examine the substance abuse and high-risk behavior histories of a group of 80 newly incarcerated women in Texas prisons with histories of varying degrees of mental impairment. In addition, the authors analyze the risk-taking behavior of a subset of 29 of these women who report histories of prostitution. This studys findings indicate that the majority of these 80 female inmates have histories of sustained use of alcohol and illicit drugs, recognize a current need for substance abuse and/or psychiatric treatment, and have recent histories of numerous high-risk behaviors for the transmission of AIDS. Yet, their self-perception of chances of contracting HIV is low.

The Role of Juveniles in Urban Homicide: The Case of Houston, 1990-1994

Youth homicide offending is now regarded as a threat to society at large and inner cities in particular. A leading explanation focuses on gangs, drugs, and guns as the nexus of contemporary youth violence. This study profiles juvenile homicide in one of the nations largest cities, Houston, Texas, for the period of 1990 to 1994. Following Marvin Wolfgangs precedent, the authors summarize these homicide data in terms of demographic characteristics and victim-offender relationships. They then address the spatial distribution of lethal incidents. The authors find that gang-related killing is a relatively small proportion of all juvenile homicide offending. Also, juveniles are more likely than are adults to use firearms, commit homicide in public and outdoor locations, and engage in lethal violence in relation to other felony offending. The authors conclude with a discussion of criminal justice responses to juvenile violence.

Female Drug Offenders: HIV-Related Risk Behavior, Self-Perceptions and Public Health Implications

One-third of women entering U.S. prisons between 1986 and 1991 were drug offenders (Bureau of Justice Statistics 1993). In turn, between 1991 and 1995, the number of HIV-positive prisoners grew at about the same rate (38%) as the overall prison population (36%) (BJS 1997). This paper describes 188 drug-offending females upon admission to a state prison, with an emphasis on their self-reported HIV-related behavioral histories. We analyze the self-reported health histories, drug and sexual high-risk behaviors, and self-perceptions of risk of these women. We also examine their attitudes toward drugs and alcohol as a personal problem and toward treatment, as compared to property and violent offenders. We find that drug-offending females have histories of multiple HIV/AIDS-related risk behaviors, yet perceive their HIV infection risk as low. Unlike women incarcerated for property or violent offenses, a significant propor tion of drug offenders with personal drug and alcohol problems is interested in participating in substance abuse treatment. These findings support our contention that correctional administrators have a narrow, yet critical, window of opportunity to provide drug and alcohol treatment, AIDS education, and self-efficacy training to these women during their few years of incarceration.