‘Incarcerated Women: Pathways to Jail’ is topic of ISU Humanities Cafe April 18

"Incarcerated Women: Pathways and the Criminal Justice System Response" is the topic of an Idaho State University Humanities Café at 6 p.m. April 18 at the Portneuf Valley Brewery located on First Avenue in Pocatello.

The Humanities Cafe is presented by ISU Committee for the Study of Violence, Conflict, and War in Society.

The event will feature a panel comprised of Shannon Lynch, ISU professor of psychology and licensed clinical psychologist; Lt. Kathleen Ballard and Sgt. Marc Mayo, Bannock County Jail; and Ross Castleton, program manager, and Nancy Espeseth, warden, Pocatello Women's Correctional Center.

This panel will discuss women's pathways to incarceration and share the charges and goals of corrections agencies interacting with the women. The pathways discussion will highlight how women's experiences of interpersonal violence, substance use, and mental health problems increase risk of criminal behavior. Next, corrections staff members will talk about the goals of short-term facilities such as jails and longer-term facilities such as prisons and the challenge of meeting the needs of female offenders. 

The event, sponsored by a grant from the ISU College of Arts and Letters, is free, open to the public and appetizers will be provided.

For additional information contact Erika Kuhlman at kuhlerik@isu.edu or Linda Leeuwrik at leeulind@isu.edu.

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