Incarcerated Women’s Experiences and Perceptions of Participating in Research

• Author: Lisa Schelbe,Carrie Pettus-Davis,Amanda Hardwick,Stephen J. Tripodi,Cynthia E. Hanifin,Ashley N. Wilfong
• DOI: 10.1177/0306624X17747173
• Published date: 01 September 2018
• Date: 01 September 2018
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X17747173

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

2018, Vol. 62(12) 3797 –3814

© The Author(s) 2017

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DOI: 10.1177/0306624X17747173

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Article

Incarcerated Women’s

Experiences and Perceptions

of Participating in Research

Lisa Schelbe1 , Amanda Hardwick1,

Ashley N. Wilfong2, Cynthia E. Hanifin3,

Stephen J. Tripodi1, and Carrie Pettus-Davis4

Abstract

The research process within prisons has largely considered researchers’

perspectives. Only one known study explicitly examined incarcerated persons’

perceptions and no known studies have explored incarcerated persons’ experiences

with research on sensitive topics. This study examines incarcerated women’s

experiences with participating in research on victimization. A thematic analysis

was conducted on responses to open-ended questions about participating in a

research study from 227 women in two prisons who participated in a study about

victimization. Women prisoners were overwhelmingly positive about participating

in the research study with the vast majority willing to participate in a future

study. Participants believed participating in the study provided opportunities for

them to share their story, heal, reflect, grow, and help others. Some women

mentioned that discussing certain topics created uncomfortable emotions and

memories. Participants perceived benefits of participating in research. Implications

for research in prisons are presented.

Keywords

incarcerated women, women offenders, prison research, human subjects protection,

IRB, victimization, women prisoners

1Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA

2Tallahassee, FL, USA

3Chicago, IL, USA

4Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA

Corresponding Author:

Lisa Schelbe, Florida State University, 296 Champions Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.

Email: lschelbe@fsu.edu

747173IJOXXX10.1177/0306624X17747173International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologySchelbe et al.

research-article2017

3798 International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 62(12)

Women are entering prisons in the United States at a rate double that of their male

counterparts (Carson, 2015; Drapalski, Youman, Stuewig, & Tangney, 2009). At the

end of 2014, approximately 1.56 million Americans were incarcerated in prison

(Carson, 2015). Despite a minor decrease in incarceration rates from 2013 to 2014,

the number of women in prison sentenced to more than 1 year increased from

104,300 to 106,200 (Carson, 2015). Women in prison often have different needs

than men in prison (Messina, Burdon, Hagopian, & Prendergast, 2006) and have

higher rates of mental health issues—such as severe depression and psychosis—

than their male counterparts (James & Glaze, 2006; Kennedy, Tripodi, & Pettus-

Davis, 2013). Furthermore, women in prison with mental health problems are more

likely to meet criteria for a substance use disorder than women without mental

health issues (James & Glaze, 2006). In addition, women in prison have high rates

of childhood victimization (Kennedy et al., 2013; Tripodi & Pettus-Davis, 2013).

Previous studies have shown up to 78% of women in prison have experienced pre-

vious physical or sexual abuse (McDaniels-Wilson & Belknap, 2008) and almost

80% have experienced intimate partner violence (Lynch, DeHart, Belknap, &

Green, 2012).

Until recently, interventions for women in prison were largely implemented

based on the needs for men. The recognition of the disproportionate victimization

experiences and related mental health problems for women in prison has led to

some gender-responsive and trauma-informed care interventions (Covington &

Bloom, 2007; Messina, Grella, Cartier & Torres, 2010; Saxena, Messina, & Grella,

2014). However, it is necessary to conduct more research with women in prison to

continue learning about their gender-responsive needs to ultimately implement

effective programs that improve their quality of life and reduce recidivism. There

are more studies assessing criminogenic risks and needs with women in prison;

thus, it is important to note that participating in research has potential risks in addi-

tion to benefits, largely because of their susceptibility to coercion (Dugosh,

Festinger, Croft, & Marlowe, 2010; Mobley, Henry, & Plemmons, 2007). Several

qualitative studies examine challenges that researchers face while working with

people in prison and prison staff (Byrne, 2005; Patenaude, 2004; Quina et al., 2007;

Ramluggun, Lindsay, & Pfeil, 2010; Schlosser, 2008; Wakai, Shelton, Trestman, &

Kesten, 2009). However, extant literature on the research process within prisons is

from the perspectives of researchers; inmates’ perspectives on potential risks and

benefits of participating in research are largely absent. The notable exception is

Copes, Hochstetler, and Brown (2012) who examined incarcerated men’s percep-

tions of the benefits and risks of participating in research study on parole revoca-

tion. No known research specifically has examined incarcerated women’s views of

participating in research nor focused on incarcerated individuals who participate in

research on sensitive topics. This study seeks to address this gap in the literature

through examining incarcerated women’s perceptions and experiences about par-

ticipating in a research study. The study the women participated was on victimiza-

tion and included sensitive questions about history of victimization, mental health

problems, and substance abuse.