Женщины на условно-досрочном освобождении сталкиваются с более высоким уровнем бездомности и тяжелых заболеваний

Women on parole report higher rates of housing instability, poor health and serious mental health and substance use disorders than men on parole and women who weren't on parole, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan think tank Council on Criminal Justice. For people leaving prison, parole is a period of transition that can involve finding housing and work, reconnecting with family and accessing health care while also meeting the conditions of supervision. How well those pieces come together can shape whether someone successfully settles back into the community -- a key part, some argue, of reducing future involvement with the criminal justice system and promoting public safety. The council's latest report examined nationally representative 2021-23 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, comparing women who reported being on parole both with women who were not on parole and with men who were on parole. About 13 percent of women on parole reported moving three or more times in the previous year, compared with 2 percent of women who were not on parole and 6 percent of men on parole, according to the analysis. Women on parole also were more likely to report poor health. About 29 percent rated their overall health as fair or poor, compared with 16 percent of women not on parole and 17 percent of men on parole. About 24 percent of women on parole met the criteria for a severe mental health disorder, compared with 7 percent of women not on parole and 10 percent of men on parole, according to the council's report. About 25 percent of women on parole also reported experiencing a major depressive episode during the previous year, compared with 10 percent of women not on parole and 12 percent of men on parole. The analysis found that substance use disorders were common among people on parole, but severe disorders were more prevalent among women. About 32 percent of women on parole met the criteria for a severe substance use disorder, compared with 24 percent of men on parole and 3 percent of women not on parole. The disparity was especially large for opioid use. About 18 percent of women on parole met the criteria for a severe opioid use disorder, compared with 5 percent of men on parole and 0.4 percent of women not on parole. Health and housing can make the demands of reentry harder to manage, including maintaining employment, attending treatment and supervision appointments, and managing family responsibilities, according to the report. Women on parole also were more likely than men on parole to report living in a household with minor children. About 29 percent of women on parole lived in a household with at least one child under 18, compared with 19 percent of men on parole and 30 percent of women who were not on parole. The survey, however, did not indicate whether respondents were parents, caregivers or financially responsible for the children, according to the report. Health insurance coverage also differed among the groups. About 11 percent of women on parole reported being uninsured, compared with 7 percent of women not on parole and 20 percent of men on parole, according to the analysis. The report's authors wrote that the findings point to the need for reentry planning that goes beyond supervision requirements to address housing, health care, mental health and substance use treatment and family responsibilities. The authors could not determine whether the conditions preceded or resulted from criminal justice involvement, but the findings strongly suggest women on parole face distinct reentry challenges. Stateline reporter Amanda Watford can be reached at [email protected]. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization focused on state policy. Upcoming Events