International Journal of Law and Psychiatry
Volume 29, Issue 3, 2006, Pages 204-211

Violence against women associated with arrests for sex trade but not drug charges (Article)

Raj A.* , Clarke J.G. , Silverman J.G. , Rose J. , Rosengard C. , Hebert M. , Stein M.
  • a Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St., T2W, Boston, MA 02118, United States
  • b Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RIP, United States
  • c Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Division of Public Health Practice, Boston, MA, United States
  • d Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RIP, United States
  • e Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RIP, United States
  • f Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RIP, United States
  • g Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RIP, United States

Abstract

The current study was designed to examine associations between gender-based violence and arrests due to sex trade or drug-related charges among a statewide sample of incarcerated women in Rhode Island. Incarcerated women were asked to participate in brief pre- and posttest surveys of their experiences of violence, sexual risk and substance use behaviors, as part of a study on the effectiveness of a family planning program in a state correctional facility; data from pretest surveys (N = 447) were used for current analyses. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for demographics were used to assess significant associations between gender-based violence variables (i.e., adolescent intimate partner violence (IPV), adult IPV, childhood sexual assault (SA), adolescent SA, and adult SA) and arrests due to sex trade or drug-related charges. Significant relationships were observed between arrests for sex trade and adult SA (OR = 2.1, 95%CI = 1.2-3.6), adolescent IPV (OR = 2.5, 95%CI = 1.5-4.1), and adult IPV (OR = 1.7, 95%CI = 1.1-2.6); no significant associations were observed for drug-related charges. Findings from the current study demonstrate that experiences of gender-based violence are associated with arrests for sex trade but not drug-related charges. Interventions for incarcerated women are needed to consider and address history of victimization from gender-based violence and its relation to women's historic and future sex trade involvement. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

evaluation logistic regression analysis demography correlation analysis human sexuality middle aged Rhode Island prisoner violence Prisoners controlled study Substance-Related Disorders statistical significance United States health program Humans Adolescent female Criminal Law prostitution child sexual abuse experience prison Article major clinical study adult drug abuse patient participation intimacy data analysis Observation Interviews Battered Women family planning health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33646478737&doi=10.1016%2fj.ijlp.2005.09.004&partnerID=40&md5=07f4c7242a708071e5c0e6ec9d35449b
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2005.09.004
ISSN: 01602527
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English