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Offenders in Transition Project

Offenders in Transition Project. Dr. Lee G. Streetman, Professor Dept. of Sociology & Criminal Justice Delaware State University lstreetman@desu.edu. Imagine a place where. “adult prisoners put in an order for boys”

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Offenders in Transition Project

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  1. Offenders in Transition Project • Dr. Lee G. Streetman, Professor • Dept. of Sociology & Criminal Justice • Delaware State University • lstreetman@desu.edu

  2. Imagine a place where • “adult prisoners put in an order for boys” • Juveniles are smuggled into adult incarceration facilities and “rented out for short-time sex” over a period of several months • “some men have up to 3 wives” • “these boys have been in our cells for over six months” • (Zomba, Blantyre, and Lilongwe Prisons)

  3. Each offender- unique biography • “Ruth” • “?”

  4. OFFENDERS IN TRANSITION:Just Trying to do Good An Assessment of Health Risks and Concerns

  5. All research begins somewhere… Moundsville, WV penitentiary Ferris School for adjudicated youth Research Specialist for Delaware Council for Crime and Justice “Thresholds” inmate decision-making program volunteer training

  6. Overview • Introduction • Correlation: HIV/AIDS & incarceration rates • Research Methodology • Anticipating release from prison • Good to be Out, What Next? • When Good Intentions Go Bad • Discussion and Conclusion

  7. Offenders in Transition Project

  8. Advanced Research at International Centre for Prison Studies at Kings College, Univ. Londonand Global Awareness Conference Accra, Ghana

  9. Correlation between incarceration rates and rates of HIV/AIDS • Incarceration rates are statistically correlated with HIV/AIDS rates nationally and globally • The US has the highest rate of incarceration in the world (738/100,000) • US incarcerates 23% of world’s prisoners, but has only 5% of world’s population • 1,000,000 cases AIDS (1/4 do not know)

  10. www.avert.org/prisons-hiv-aids.html

  11. Delaware: the 1st rate • Incarceration rate 820/100,000 population • HIV/AIDS rate 5th highest in US • 1st in AIDS-related prison deaths • 1,946 cases AIDS; 1,127 HIV positive • Over 97% of Delaware’s prisoners will be released (30,000 every year) • Public health risk

  12. Transience is the key to high rates • Rehoboth Beach, DE gay tourist resort • Migrant poultry/mushroom laborers • I-95 and Amtrak “drug corridors” • HIV risk groups • Injection drug users (IDU) • Men who have sex with men (MSM) • Heterosexual contact with risk groups (down low)

  13. National Institute of Mental Health

  14. Data and Method HIV/AIDS and offender populations Previous research on the relationship between attitudes and risk behaviors “Theory of Reasoned Action” Behavior= Behavioral Intention +Attitude +Subjective Norm Stage Model regression analyses

  15. Theory of Reasoned Action

  16. Research Hypotheses • Released offenders MORE likely to engage in risk behaviors during transition if: • Extensive drug/alcohol histories • Few supportive relationships • Low knowledge about HIV/AIDS risk prevention • Perceived greater barriers to risk avoidance • More factors present, exert cumulative effect

  17. 4-Stage Model of Risk Behavior Stage I: Background Risk History Stage II: Level of Knowledge Stage III: Situational Supports Stage IV: Risk Behaviors Time One Interviews (pre-release) Time Two Interviews (post-release)

  18. In-depth interviewing • Pre-release interviews (N=45) • Facility A: 24 male inmates • Facility B: 21 male inmates • Post-release interviews (N=28) • Work-release: 4 males; 6 females • In Community: 13 males; 5 females

  19. Delaware Dept. of Corrections

  20. Sample characteristics of inmates in Pre-release Programs • Avg. age= 36.7 • Educational attainment= 10.8 years • Avg. time incarcerated= 58.1 months • Percent single/not in relationship= 51% • Percent past alcohol/drug abuse= 100% • Number of friends w/o drug problem= 2.1 • Avg. HIV risk behaviors= 4.2 • Score on HIV knowledge test= 21.8 (out of 25)

  21. HIV risk behaviors prior to and during incarceration • Sex without using latex condom • Unprotected sex while under the influence • Unprotected sex with more than 1 partner • Sex with a person infected with STD • Received or given sex for money/drugs • Sex with person who uses injection drugs • Unprotected sex with person of the same sex • Injection drug use, sharing needle/syringe

  22. Top-ranked concerns during pre-release among males • How to make amends to family • Finding a place to live • Finding a job/how to get money • Anxiety over release/re-offending • Finding a new girlfriend • Coming out with nothing • Safety/don’t want to die in prison

  23. Top-ranked concerns during pre-release among females • Change myself • How to deal with my sentence/years • My kids • Relationship with another inmate • “bugging out” or “snapping” • Requesting medical care • Religious beliefs

  24. Transition characteristics of released offenders (males) • Stable housing 71% • Access to medical care 59% • In relationship(s) 59% • HIV test since release 35% • Seeking employment 24%

  25. Transition characteristics of released offenders (females) • HIV test since release 91% • Stable housing 82% • Access to medical care 82% • Seeking employment 73% • In relationship(s) 55%

  26. Top-ranked concerns during post-release (males) • Get my own place • Get married • Find employment • Complete probation • Reestablish family

  27. Top-ranked concerns during post-release (females) • Get GED/complete education • Find job/job training • Get family living back together • Get house/home • Maintain sponsor/relationships

  28. Average times performed activity during reentry (males) • Gone on a “date” 4.6 • Gone to religious services 4.2 • Bought or received latex condoms 3.9 • Discussed safe sex with partner 3.7 • Had sex while under influence 1.8 • Had sex with someone barely knew 1.4 • Out looking for any kind of excitement 0.8

  29. Average times performed activity during reentry (females) • Discussed safe sex with partner 6.1 • Gone to religious services 5.8 • Bought/received latex condoms 5.7 • Out looking for any kind of excitement 3.5 • Gone on a “date” 3.4 • Had sex while under influence 2.5 • Had sex with someone barely knew 1.6

  30. Age first used various drugs (males) • Alcohol 14.0 • Marijuana 14.4 • Prescription pills 19.6 • Heroin 21.5 • Hallucinogens 21.6 • Cocaine (non-IV) 22.7 • IV drug use 23.0

  31. Reasoned Action:Behavioral Intention scores • Partner get tested 60.2 • Use latex condom 54.0 • Have condoms handy 53.1 • Get tested for HIV 50.5 • Practice safe sex 46.1 • Buy latex condoms 41.0 • Discuss safer sex 37.7 • Abstain from sex 23.9

  32. Perceived barriers to protection (0=very easy 10=very difficult) • Buy condoms 0.3 • Discuss condom use with partner(s) 0.6 • Use condoms for one night stand 0.9 • Discuss safe sex in nonsexual setting 1.0 • Make safe sex sexually exciting 1.2 • Avoid alcohol/drugs if having sex later 3.3 • Use condom if under influence 6.0

  33. Statistical analyses results • After controlling for the effects of other variables: • younger offenders are more likely to engage in safer sex behaviors • offenders with greater knowledge about HIV/AIDS are less likely to engage in HIV risk behaviors

  34. Discussion and Conclusion • This 5-year National Institute of Mental Health-funded Offenders in Transition study examined how inmates view health risks • Results show that health was not mentioned as one of the top concerns • Immediate concerns of getting a job, finding a place to live, and reestablishing family relationships are more pressing concerns

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