Promoting Health, Safety, and Wellness in Los Angeles County Jails: A Process Evaluation of Gender Responsive Programing for Incarcerated Women

Abstract

As part of our process evaluation into the implementation of gender responsive rehabilitation (GRR) programing at the women’s jail in L.A. County, we documented the planning, rationale, design, implementation, and execution of policies related to GRR. We examined successes and challenges in the hopes of providing a roadmap for other sheriffs or wardens working toward implementing similar types of programing. Among the components and processes that have the potential to serve as models for gender responsive policy and practice within corrections are the triaging process to identify appropriate programing in a timely manner, and the gender responsive advocate, a position dedicated to the pregnant population under custody. The most innovative programs and policies recognized and safeguarded the role of women as mothers. The strongest focused on minimizing the time between intake and programing. The main challenge to continuity, sustainability, and scalability was often technological.

Keywords:

• Women
• motherhood
• incarceration
• jails
• gender responsive programing

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This project would not have been possible without the commitment and vision of Former Sheriff Jim McDonnell of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and the many command staff members under his leadership at the time of our partnership. At every step along the way, we were welcomed and provided with exceptional access to information, people, and facilities. The command staff at the LASD were supportive, cooperative, and committed to our efforts to conduct meaningful evaluations of their programs, personnel and the individuals under their custody. At the Century Regional Detention Facility (also referred to as the Women’s Jail), we wish to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of Chief Maria R. Gutierrez who facilitated our process evaluation, providing us access to key personnel, incarcerated women, facilities, and programs. She made us feel welcomed and impressed us with her leadership skills and compassion. We also gratefully acknowledge the efforts and support provided by Commander Cheryl A. Newman-Tarwater who graciously facilitated one of our visits at CRDF, as well as Captain Diana L. Holloway whose expertise was invaluable, and Assistant Division Director Karen Dalton for her time and insight into the gender responsive program’s development. We extend a special thanks to Sergeants Britta M. Kjellstrand, Norma Maciel and Joann E. Rodriguez who provided us with the program data we needed to conduct the process evaluation. We are especially grateful to Custody Assistant Barbara White, whose experience with gender responsive programing and commitment to inmate well-being is nothing short of exemplary.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

None of the authors of this article have any conflicts of interest to report.

Notes

1 In 2015, females accounted for 43.2% of all persons arrested for larceny-theft offenses. For more information see Uniform Crime Report, Crime in the United States, 2015.

2 Drug abuse is also a prominent pathway to incarceration for males. In 2015, 77.4% of the total number of persons arrested for drug abuse violations were male. For more information see Uniform Crime Report, Crime in the United States, 2015.

3 In 2015, males accounted for 79.7% of persons arrested for violent crimes and for 61.7% of persons arrested for property crimes. For more information see Uniform Crime Report, Crime in the United States, 2015.

4 The Likert scale consisted for the following response categories: 1 = No, not at all; 2 = Yes, but needs significant improvement; 3 = Yes, but needs some improvement; 4 = Yes, functions reasonably well; 5 = Yes, functions very well; NA = Not applicable.

Additional information

Funding

This evaluation was supported by Grant No. 20162288, awarded by the California Endowment. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the California Endowment, the National Police Foundation, or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.