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Transgender women (i.e., persons who were assigned male sex at birth but who live and identify as female) experience forms of discrimination that limit their access to stable housing and contribute to high rates of incarceration; once incarcerated, the approaches used to assign them housing within the jail or prison place them at risk for abuse, rape, and other outcomes. Yet, a paucity of studies explores the implications of carceral housing assignments for transgender women. Whether the approaches used to assign housing in jails and prisons violate the rights of incarcerated transgender persons has been argued before the US federal courts under Section 1983 of the US Constitution, which allows persons who were raped while incarcerated to claim a violation of their Eighth Amendment rights. Reforms and policy recommendations have been attempted; however, the results have been mixed and the public health implications have received limited attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented in which the authors discuss the increase in pregnancy among women prisoners in the U.S., the health of pregnant prisoners, and challenges facing both pregnant prisoners and public health. The article also examines how COVID-19 impacted the lives of pregnant prisoners.

Objectives. We examined the impact of smoking cessation on weight change in a population of women prisoners. Methods. Women prisoners (n=360) enrolled in a smoking cessation intervention; 250 received a 10-week group intervention plus transdermal nicotine replacement. Results. Women who quit smoking had significant weight gain at 3-and 6-month follow-ups, with a net difference of 10 pounds between smokers and abstainers at 6 months. By the 12-month follow-up, weight gain decreased among abstainers. Conclusions. We are the first, to our knowledge, to demonstrate weight gain associated with smoking cessation among women prisoners. Smoking cessation interventions that address postcessation weight gain as a preventative measure may be beneficial in improving health and reducing the high prevalence of smoking in prisoner populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We sought to describe the prevalence of childhood traumatic events among incarcerated women in substance abuse treatment and to assess the relation between cumulative childhood traumatic events and adult physical and mental health problems. Methods. The study was modeled after the Adverse Childhood Events study's findings. In-depth baseline interview data for 500 women participating in the Female Offender Treatment and Employment Program evaluation were analyzed. Results. Hypotheses were supported, and regression results showed that the impact of childhood traumatic events on health outcomes is strong and cumulative (greater exposure to childhood traumatic events increased the likelihood of 12 of 18 health-related outcomes, ranging from a 15% increase in the odds of reporting fair/poor health to a 40% increase in the odds of mental health treatment in adulthood). Conclusions. Our findings suggest a need for early prevention and intervention, and appropriate trauma treatment, within correctional treatment settings. (Am J Public Health. 2006;96:1842-1848. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.082016) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author addresses the impact of incarceration policies in the U.S. on the health of women of color. He stresses the need for public health programs, policies, and research to reduce adverse effects. He argues that correction policies contribute to health status disparities between White women and women of color.