Description
Choose one article from the list below and read it.
Social and Criminal Justice
oElmalak, S. (2015, April). Babies behind bars: An evaluation of prison nurseries in American female prisons and their potential Constitutional challenges. Pace Law Review, 35(3), 1080.
oMcDowall, D., Loftin, C., & Pate, M. (2012). Seasonal cycles in crime, and their variability. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 28(3), 389-410. doi:10.1007/s10940-011-9145-7
oTrautner, M. (2011). Tort reform and access to justice: How legal environments shape lawyers' case selection. Qualitative Sociology, 34(4), 523-538. doi:10.1007/s11133-011-9203-3
1.Read the resource below.
oLearning Commons. (2013). Using a scientific journal article to write a critical review (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. University of Guelph. Retrieved from http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/get-assistance/writing/...
2.Employ the methods detailed in the Learning Commons resource to critique the article you selected in Step 1. At a minimum, the critique should include the following information:
oIntroduction
(about two pages)
Summarize the article you chose, including discussions surrounding the purpose
of the study, the methodology utilized, the results obtained, and the
conclusions drawn by the author(s) utilizing questions posed in the reading.
Utilize questions posed in the “Analyze the Text” section of the Learning
Commons resource to develop this section. You must include the full APA
citation for the article in your references page.
oBody (about
five pages)
Determine both the strengths and weaknesses of each section of the paper (i.e.,
introduction, methods, results, discussion, overview). Use questions posed in
the “Evaluate the Text” section of the Learning Commons resource to develop
this section.
oConclusion
(about three pages)
Discuss the significance of the research. Utilize questions posed in the
“Establish the Significance of the Research” section of the Learning Commons
resource to develop this section.
Writing the Final Paper
The Final Paper:
1.Must be 8 to 10 double-spaced pages in length (excluding title and reference pages), and formatted according to APA style.
2.Must include a title page with the following:
oTitle of paper
oStudent’s name
oCourse name and number
oInstructor’s name
oDate submitted
3.Must use at least two scholarly resources.
4.Must document all sources in APA style.
5.Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style.
Explanation & Answer
Attached.
Running head: ELMALAK’S BABIES BEHIND BARS ARTICLE CRITIQUE
Elmalak’s Babies Behind Bars Article Critique
Student’s Name
Course Name and Number
Instructor’s Name
Date Submitted
1
ELMALAK’S BABIES BEHIND BARS ARTICLE CRITIQUE
Introduction
The article that I selected for critical analysis is Seham Elmalak’s “Babies Behind Bars:
An Evaluation of Prison Nurseries in American Female Prisons and Their Potential
Constitutional Challenges.” The main purpose of the article is to argue in favor of retaining and
establishing more prison nursery programs in U.S. prisons that incarcerate women. The prison
nursery programs are initiatives that are aimed at helping incarcerated women keep their
newborn babies for a limited amount of time. The period of time that an incarcerated mother can
keep a child is between 12-18 months after its birth (Elmalak, 2015). Only women who were
incarcerated while pregnant are eligible for the nursery programs. A key rationale for
establishing and maintaining the prison nursery programs is that mothers are very often the
primary caregivers and infants develop a secure attachment when they are taken care of by the
primary caregiver in early years. In the article, Elmalak (2015) assesses both the positive and
negative impacts of the nursery programs.
The study adopted a qualitative research methodology (Bhattacherjee, 2012). The author
collected data and information from various sources and used the data and information to support
her case. Sources, where data and information was obtained, include the U.S.’s Bureau of Justice
Statistics, numerous scientific studies, the U.S. Constitution, and judicial precedents.
The results of the study show that the number of women currently incarcerated in the
U.S. has risen very rapidly. The number rose by 637 percent between 1980 and 2011 (Elmalak,
2015). The rise of women in prison has created challenges for the criminal justice system. The
challenge that is under consideration in the article is the rise in the number of women who are
incarcerated while pregnant. Studies have shown adequate nutrition and exercise is key for
pregnant women. Their safety is also key. Studies also have found out that children whose
2
ELMALAK’S BABIES BEHIND BARS ARTICLE CRITIQUE
mothers are incarcerated suffer adversely (Elmalak, 2015). Mothers are considered to be the
primary caregivers. Failure to securely attach to a primary caregiver has been linked to
developmental challenges in a child.
Elmalak (2015) identifies several advantages of allowing prisons to maintain nursery
programs. One advantage is that the programs help create a strong relationship between newborn
children and their mothers. They also help improve the mental health of mothers, the mothers’
conduct, and they also help reduce the rate of recidivism. A key limitation is that the separation
of the child from the mother in the case of mothers who have long sentences can have a negative
impact on both the child and the mother. Critics have also argued that it is not in the best interest
of a child to live in a restrictive and stressful environment. Another limitation is that the
programs are only open to low-risk incarcerated women. Children of high-risk incarcerated
mothers do not enjoy the early support of their primary caretaker.
Elmalak (2015) cites a number of constitutional challenges to the prison nursery
programs. One challenge is that incarcerated fathers can also raise a fourteenth amendment equal
protection claim to also have nursery programs in male facilities. Incarcerated fathers can claim
that they are being discriminated against on the basis of sex by having the nursery programs only
on female facilities. Incarcerated women who are non-mothers c...
Review
Review
