Testing Levinson’s Theory Using a Sample of Mothers in the Criminal Justice System

The ability of mothers in the criminal justice system to obtain stable employment upon release has been shown to be a crucial aspect for successful reentry into society. Stable employment is a key predictor of mothers’ success in their transition from the criminal justice system back into society. Levinson’s theory was used to determine if life eras predicted mothers’ (N = 1,040) career needs related to education, employment, and counseling. This study failed to support Levinson’s theory. Specifically, mothers in the criminal justice system did not differ, by age, on their education needs, employment needs, or career counseling needs.