Precarity and Punishment: The Exacerbation of the Chronic Needs of Women With Felony Convictions During the Pandemic

This research examines how women with histories of felony convictions navigated prominent barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on 94 telephone interviews, we explore how the pandemic intensified longstanding challenges—financial hardship, social isolation, and reintegration difficulties. Findings support ongoing calls for gender-responsive reforms and highlight four critical areas in need of attention: (1) erosion of social capital, (2) instability of low-wage employment, (3) persistent mental and physical health needs, and (4) distrust in government and limited access to social safety-net resources. These insights emphasize the compounded vulnerabilities faced by women with criminal records in both every day and crisis contexts.