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| My Turn: Female inmates need our help |
| By concordmonitor.com - Dan Huston |
| Published: 11/27/2012 |
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The New Hampshire Legislature will soon begin making difficult funding decisions about state services. When it comes to the Department of Corrections budget, lawmakers may be discussing whether to increase mental health services to women prisoners. A recent lawsuit filed against the state corrections commissioner suggests women prisoners have fewer services than men who are behind bars, and a new state audit suggests that “by not providing female inmates with similar rehabilitation opportunities, the DOC may be increasing the chances of female inmates returning to prison.” Recently, while teaching a five-week communication class to women at Shea Farm, a transitional housing unit in Concord for women who are on their way out of prison, I began to develop similar concerns about women prisoners’ rehabilitation and recidivism rates. I learned a lot about at least some women prisoners in New Hampshire while teaching that course. I learned they have dreams, intelligence and compassion. They laugh easily and treat each other with respect. They listen with empathy and support each other with sincerity. However, as one might expect, they also have problems – in some cases deeply rooted problems related to trauma that may very well have contributed to them being behind bars in the first place. Recovering from that trauma will likely require intense counseling. Unfortunately, that kind of counseling is difficult to provide, and it is apparently not always readily available. Read More. |
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