Keywords
Incarcerated mothers; Risk assessment instruments; Maternal-child separation; Correctional decision-making; Psychological distress; Prison classification systems
Abstract
This study examines whether frequently used correctional assessment instruments adequately capture the psychological impacts of maternal-child separation among incarcerated women. This research was conducted in response to growing criticisms that traditional risk and needs assessments fail to account for gender-specific experiences, specifically those related to caregiving roles and pregnancy. Using a qualitative analysis content analysis to assess four widely used instruments, the Women’s Risk and Needs Assessment (WRNA), Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS), Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), and Level of Service Inventory–Revised (LSI-R), the thesis examines the inclusion of pregnancy-related variables, caregiving responsibilities, and separation-related psychological factors. The findings revealed significant variation across the instruments, with the WRNA demonstrating the strongest inclusion of gender-responsive factors. Despite this, across all instruments analyzed, direct measures of maternal-child separation and pregnancy-related variables were absent. Rather than explicit assessment, these variables were largely represented through indirect indicators, such as the presence of depression, anger, and loneliness, which are highly subjective and require interpretation. This reliance on indirect measures creates inconsistency in identifying the needs of incarcerated mothers and may result in incomplete or inaccurate assessments of those needs. This study is significant in that it focuses on a critical gap in correctional assessment practices and calls for more explicit, trauma-informed, and gender-responsive approaches to assessment. By identifying these limitations, this study provides a foundation for improving assessment accuracy, informing policy development, and enhancing reentry preparation for incarcerated mothers.
Thesis Completion Year
2026
Thesis Completion Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair
Lucken, Karol
College
College of Community Innovation and Education
Department
Criminal Justice
Thesis Discipline
Criminal Justice and Psychology
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Yearwood, Samantha, "The Psychological Effect of Maternal Separation From a Child During Incarceration: A Survey and Critique of Risk Needs Assessments" (2026). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 532.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/532
Included in
Clinical Psychology Commons, Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Law Enforcement and Corrections Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Public Policy Commons, Social Work Commons
Accessibility Statement
This item was created or digitized prior to April 24, 2027, or is a reproduction of legacy media created before that date. It is preserved in its original, unmodified state specifically for research, reference, or historical recordkeeping. In accordance with the ADA Title II Final Rule, the University Libraries provides accessible versions of archival materials upon request. To request an accommodation for this item, please submit an accessibility request form.