Women Behind Bars The Needs and Challenges of NHs Increasing Population of Incarcerated Women Contac

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Women Behind BarsThe Needs and Challenges of
NHs Increasing Population of Incarcerated
WomenContact the Institute at 226-0877 or
info_at_nhwpi.org
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Increasing arrests
Women Red Men Blue
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and alcohol arrests are significantly higher in
NH than in the US
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Increasing Incarceration at County Level
Admissions at Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough,
Merrimack, Strafford, and Sullivan HOCs
Women Red Men Blue
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Increasing Admissions to the State Prison
Recidivism a Major Driver
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Major Factors Affecting Women

• Mental Illness

• AOD Abuse

• As many as 78 of women in NH prison are affected
• As many as 60-75 of women in the county jails
  are affected

• As many as 92 of women in the county jails have
  alcohol or other drug problem

More than half 66 in the prison have both AOD
abuse and mental illness
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low levels of education and high rates of
unemployment
Women Red Men Blue
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Effect on children

• When fathers go to prison

• When mothers go to prison

• Fewer than half - (47) live with children at
  time of incarceration
• their children are then cared for by the mother.

• More than two-thirds (67) live with their
  children at the time of incarceration
• their children are then cared for by
  grandparents, relatives, and in foster care.

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More than 1,300 NH children affected each year by
their mothers incarceration
Estimated number of NH children living with
mother before her incarceration
Includes protective custody cases
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Closing

• Effective treatment for women critical to their
  success upon re-entry
• Alternative sentencing programs may be expanded
  using best practices
• Consistent data collection and analysis needed