Survey of Women Inmates: A Survey of
Lifetime Victimization Experiences Among
Women at the New Mexico Women’s
Correctional Facility, Grants, NM
Betty Caponera, Ph.D.
New Mexico Interpersonal
Violence Data Central Repository
Overview





Background on the Survey of Women Inmates
Demographic and Health History Findings
Examine the differences in the rates of victimization
experiences between convicted women offenders
and women in the general population
Examine the family of origin household dysfunction
of convicted women to women and men in the
general population
Discuss implications for effective prevention and
rehabilitation
ACE Study
Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACE) (CDC-Kaiser
Permanente, San Diego, CA)
A study of the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and
specific health outcomes:

Examined 10 risk factors that contribute to the leading causes of
morbidity and mortality (smoking, severe obesity, physical inactivity,
depressed mood, suicide attempts, alcoholism/drug abuse, parental
drug abuse, a high lifetime number of sexual partners and a history
of having a sexually transmitted disease)

Disease conditions among the leading causes of mortality in the US
(heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic bronchitis or emphysema,
diabetes, hepatitis or jaundice, and any skeletal fractures).
Citation - Felitti, V. et al. Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes
of Death in Adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, Am J Prev Med 1998:14(4), 245-258.
ACE Study Questions
The seven categories of adverse childhood experiences examined were:
Abuse Categories:
 Psychological abuse
 Physical abuse
 Sexual abuse
Household dysfunction Categories:
 Substance abuse
 Mental Illness
 Mother/Step-mother treated violently
 Criminal behavior in the household
ACE Study Questions
Q: While you were growing up during your first 18 years of life, did a parent or other adult
in the household…
Psychological
a. Often or very often swear at, insult, or put you down?
b. Often or very often act in a way that made you afraid that you would be physically hurt?
Physical
a. Often or very often push, grab, shove, or slap you?
b. Often or very often hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?
Q: While you were growing up during your first 18 years of life, did an adult or person at
least 5 years older ever…
Sexual
a. Touch or fondle you in a sexual way?
b. Have you touch their body in a sexual way?
c. Attempt oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?
d. Actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?
ACE Study Questions
Q: While you were growing up during your first 18 years of life…
Substance Abuse
a. Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic?
b. Did you live with anyone who used street drugs?
Mental Illness
a. Was a household member depressed or mentally ill?
b. Did a household member attempt suicide?
Q: While you were growing up during your first 18 years of life, was your mother or stepmother
Mother Treated Violently
a. Sometimes, often, or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped or had something thrown at her?
b. Sometimes, often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist or hit with something hard?
c. Ever repeatedly hit over at least a few minutes?
d. Ever threatened with, or hurt by a knife or gun?
Criminal Behavior in Household
a . Did a household member go to prison?
ACE Study
Findings:

Most patients in the study who were exposed to one
category of childhood abuse or household dysfunction
were also exposed to at least one other category

If a person experienced any single category of exposure,
the probability of exposure to any additional category
ranged from 65-93% depending on the category

The more categories of exposure the greater the
prevalence of many risk factors and disease conditions
ACE Study

Persons who experience these adverse
childhood experiences adopt coping
mechanisms to deal with the resulting
anxiety, anger and depression from these
experiences

The coping behaviors adopted of course, are
those that offer immediate relief: smoking,
over eating, alcohol or drug abuse, or sexual
acting out
Research Questions
Q. Do women who offend experience sexual or physical abuse at
significantly greater rates than women in the general population?
Q. Does polyvictimization (experience of more than one type of abuse)
exist at significantly greater rates among women who offend than
women in the general population?
Q. Do women who offend experience significantly greater rates of
“household dysfunction” (measured by a childhood living environment
characterized by substance abuse, mental illness, criminal behavior,
and violent treatment of a mother or stepmother) than women in the
general population?
Q. If exposure to childhood abuse and household dysfunction makes
one at risk for offending, what are the implications for prevention and
rehabilitation?
Survey of Women Inmates

Questions to measure adverse childhood experiences were
taken from the ACE Study

Questions to measure other interpersonal violence
victimization experiences, including victimizations in
adulthood were taken from the National Violence Against
Women Study (National Institute of Justice and Centers for
Disease Control Prevention, 1998, NCJ17237)

Questions to measure criminal histories, current offenses and
sentences were taken from the Survey of Inmates in State
Correctional Facilities (SISCF), (Bureau of Justice Statistics,
National Archive of Criminal Justice Data,ICPSR 4572, 2004)
Survey of Women Inmates

The survey was conducted over 10 visits to the New Mexico
Women’s Correctional Facility in Grants between February
2010 and November 2010

All incarcerated women with the exception of high risk
inmates (those highly dangerous in solitary confinement or
those confined for mental illness) were allowed to participate

All incarcerated women not occupied in work assignments
during the morning or afternoon times of the day during
which the survey was conducted, were escorted to a
designated room where the survey would be conducted and
asked to participate
Survey of Women Inmates

Participation was voluntary

Those that did not wish to participate were escorted back
to their prior or preferred authorized destinations

Over the months of the survey, there was an average
513 women incarcerated at the facility. Those eligible to
participate because of the absence of the
aforementioned disqualifications numbered 236

Twenty six women chose not to participate

A total of 210 women completed the survey
Women Inmate Demographics
Median age = 36 years
Women Inmate Demographics
*
*US Census, 2010
Women Inmate Demographics
Most women (60%) were married once, but the proportion of those
no longer married (38%) is similar to those never married (40%)
Women Inmate Demographics
Approximately half (51% or 106) of the women did not graduate from high
school. The median grade completed = 11th; approximately half (49% or 101)
graduated high school or went to college or graduate school: 21% (43)
graduated high school; 28% (58) went to college or graduate school.
Women Inmate Demographics

92% of women inmates have
children, including step or adopted
children

Median/mean number of children = 3

Median age when having their first
child is 19 years old
Women Inmate Demographics
Two thirds 134 (64%) of women inmates worked in the 12 months before their incarceration.
One-third (44) of the women that worked, had multiple jobs at the same time. Of these, 37 were full-time workers.
Women Inmate Demographics
Of 207 women respondents, 36% (74) received income from illegal sources in the month before their
incarceration.
Median income per month from all sources of income = $1,000
Health History

One-fifth (43 or 20%) reported having a physical
disability (disabling injury) compared to 7% of
respondents with disabling injury in the general
population as reported in the SVV*

58% (25 of 43) of those with a physical disability
reported that it was the result of a violent attack

88% (38 of 43) reported their disabling injury
interfered with their normal activities
* Survey of Violence Victimization in New Mexico, 2005
Health History

69% (145) of the women experienced two or
more weeks of depressed mood in the past
year

One third (32% or 68) reported that they
attempted suicide

75% of those that attempted suicide had
more than one attempt
Health History
Mean = 3.7 times | Median = 2 times
Health History

95% (200) reported that they drank alcohol;
median age first time = 13 years; however
most started at 12 years

78% (155) of those that drank, did so in the
12 months before their incarceration

33.5% (67) considered themselves an
alcoholic

20.5% (41) were told by their doctor or other
practitioner that they were an alcoholic
Health History

87% (183) reported having used illegal drugs; median
age was 15, however most started at age 13

81% (148) of those that use illegal drugs did so in the
12 months before their incarceration

96% (202) of the 210 women reported having sexual
intercourse. The median age the first time they willingly
engaged in intercourse is 15.5 years, however the first
age for most was 14 years.

21% (43) of the women that engage in sexual
intercourse reported having 50 or more partners
Health History

Of the 210 women, 53% (111) reported being
homeless, living in the street or a shelter at
some point in their lives

37% were homeless, living in the street or in a
shelter in the 12 months prior to their
incarceration

73% (154) of women spent some time in prison,
jail or other correctional facility at some point in
the 12 months before their current incarceration
Lifetime Victimization Sexual Assault
*National Violence Against Women Study
Lifetime Victimization Sexual Assault
*National Violence Against Women Study
Lifetime Victimization Sexual Assault
*National Violence Against Women Study
Lifetime Victimization Sexual Assault
*National Women’s Study
Lifetime Victimization Sexual Assault
Lifetime Victimization Physical Assault
*National Violence Against Women Study
Childhood Abuse Experiences
Childhood Abuse Experiences
Of the 210 women inmates:
 44% (93) reported experiences of
psychological and physical abuse
 38% (80) reported experiences of
psychological and sexual abuse
 35% (73) reported experiences of physical
and sexual abuse
 33% (69) reported all three (psychological,
physical and sexual abuse)
Household Dysfunction
Polyvictimization
Polyvictimization

77% women inmates compared to 30.5%
ACE population experienced multiple
categories of adverse childhood experiences

ACE found that those with 4 or more
categories of exposure had a 4 to 12-fold
increase risk for alcoholism, drug abuse,
depression and suicide attempts; and a 2 to
4-fold increase for having intercourse with 50
or more sexual partners and contracting
sexually transmitted diseases
Health Risk Factors
*Only 140 women inmates (sexual assault victims) were asked this question
Childhood Psychological Abuse
Childhood Physical Abuse
Childhood Sexual Abuse
Household Substance Abuse
Household Mental Illness
Household Criminal Behavior
Mother’s Violent Treatment
Conclusions
Q: Do women who offend experience sexual and physical abuse at
significantly greater rates than women in the general population?
 Rape victims among women inmates is 3 (3.2) times that of women in
the NM general population, and 6 (5.6) times that of women nationally

Nearly twice (41%) as many women inmates that were raped
experienced their rape by age 12, compared to women that reported
being raped by age 12 nationally (22%)

Women inmates were twice as likely to experience multiple rapes
(81%) than women nationally (39%); 51% of women inmates victims
reported 4 or more rapes.

89% of women inmates reported being a victim of physical assault at
some time in their lives, compared to 52% of women nationally
(NVAWS)
Conclusions
Q: Does polyvictimization (experience of more than one type of abuse) exist
at significantly greater rates among women who offend than women in the
general population?
 The SVV demonstrated that at some time in their life, 45% of NM women
were physically attacked, 24% of women were sexually assaulted, and
21% of women were both physically attacked and sexually assaulted
 The Survey of Women Inmates found that at some time in their life, 89%
of women inmates were physically attacked, 70% were sexually
assaulted, and 64% of women were both physically attacked and
sexually assaulted
 77% of women inmates compared to 30.5% of women and men in the
general population were exposed to multiple categories of adverse
childhood experiences
 Women inmates were six times more likely than men and women in the
general population to experience 4 ≥ adverse childhood experiences
Conclusions
Q: Do women who offend experience significantly greater rates of
“household dysfunction” (measured by a childhood living environment
characterized by substance abuse, mental illness, criminal behavior, and
violent treatment of a mother or stepmother) than men and women in the
general population?
Women inmates were:
 Almost 3 times more likely to grow up with someone who was a
problem drinker/alcoholic
 Almost 5 times more likely to grow up with someone that used street
drugs
 Almost 3 times more likely to grow up with someone that was
depressed or mentally ill
 4.5 times more likely to have a household member attempt suicide
 Almost 4 times more likely to have a mother or step-mother that was
treated violently
 Almost 8 times more likely to have a household member go to prison
Conclusions
Prevalence of high risk behavior is significantly greater
among women inmates than the general population

Women inmates are:
 3 times more likely to experience depressed mood in
the past year
 9 times more likely to ever attempt suicide
 6 times (5.5) more likely to consider herself an alcoholic
 3 times (2.8) more likely to ever use elicit drugs
 3 times more likely to have 50 or more sexual
intercourse partners
 3 times more likely to contract a sexually transmitted
disease
Implications for Prevention Efforts
National Survey of Children’s Exposure to
Violence (Finkelhor, et al, 2009)
 Measures exposure across several major
categories, including conventional crime, child
maltreatment, victimization by peers and
siblings, sexual victimization, witnessing and
indirect victimization (including exposure to
community violence and family violence, school
violence and threats, and internet victimization
[sexual harassment and solicitation])
NaSCEV Recommendations


Those who work with children must assess for a broader range of
victimizations
Give priority for polyvictims
 Professionals who work with children need to pay particular
attention to polyvictims because of their vulnerability to mental
health, behavior, school performance and other problems
 Identify these children in schools, in social welfare and mental
health caseloads, in foster care and juvenile justice systems
 Do not minimize their victimization histories by focusing on one
type of problem (sexual abuse, or bullying, etc.)
 Give particular attention to bully-victims (victims of violence who
also bully others) and sexual assault victims as studies have
shown the worst outcomes for these children who are more likely
than others to have multiple victimizations
NaSCEV Recommendations

Professionals must develop new interventions to encompass
multiple victimizations that involve a team of professionals to
collaborate in the treatment strategies of each polyvictim child

Assess for environmental conditions that perpetuate victimization
and develop strategies to address them – e.g. teaching parenting
and guardianship skills to parents and other adult caregivers

Interrupt the onset of the pathway to victimization – there are many
early warning indicators for future polyvictimization for children living
in dangerous families and neighborhoods, and children with
emotional problems. Professionals must help build the supervision
and protection capacities of family members, guardians, caregivers,
teachers, and other adults who may be in a position to intervene to
help children and stop the progression toward polyvictimization.
Implications for Rehabilitation
What is clear about the rehab experience for women offenders is that
effective rehab is really synonymous with personal recovery from life
victimization experiences. But most of these women have children and are
responsible for supporting these children, so they must be offered recovery
treatments, as well as family supports; and waiting until after the women
are released is ineffective.







Access to viable substance abuse programs
Access to parenting education/skills development
Access to mental health treatment
Access to sexual assault counseling
Access to family counseling
Access to educational classes to get their high school equivalency
degree
Access to skills development classes focused on training for specific
employment that allows the women to support their families
Contact Information
New Mexico Interpersonal Violence Data
Central Repository
Director Betty Caponera, Ph.D.
(505) 883-8020 office
(888) 883-8020 toll-free
www.nmcsap.org