Resources for coping among women ex-offenders

Abstract

Some women offenders cope well with community re-entry after serving judicial sentences, but little is known about the coping resources that help them succeed; research on women offenders most often examines causes of desistance from further criminality. The aim of this study was to illuminate the resources for coping used by ex-offenders who were deemed to be coping well in a community re-entry programme. Data in this qualitative study were collected from five in-depth interviews with women offenders in Norway, who were making good progression in a re-entry programme, and from one group interview with four professional staff working in two re-entry programmes. All respondents emphasized the importance to coping well of having some close relationships providing emotional and practical social support, having intrapersonal resources such as the ability to be self-reflective, staying sober, having employment or schooling opportunities, making plans for the future and using the re-entry services on offer.

Keywords:

• women offenders
• prisoner re-integration
• ex-convicts
• well-being
• coping

Acknowledgements

Research for this article was done as a part of the International Master's Program in Health Promotion at the University of Bergen.

Notes

1. [email protected].

2. She refers to being sentenced to perform community service while on probation.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maurice B. Mittelmark

1