According to Gendreau (1996), the following principles are key aspects of what makes a treatment program effective for female offenders: 1) intensive behavioural strategies that are “enforced in a firm but fair manner” and a focus on the criminogenic needs of the offenders while promoting prosocial behaviour; 2) characteristics of programs, offenders, and therapist should be matched; 3) interpersonal relationships should be responsive and constructive; and 4) they should possess relapse prevention strategies, advocacy, and brokering services in the community.
Full Answer
Are gender specific programs effective for offender treatment?
However, genderspecific programs may be more effective for female offenders, particularly those with histories of trauma and abuse (Pelissier et al. 2003). Female offenders are more likely to need medical and mental health services, child care services, and assistance in finding housing and employment.
What is the best treatment for female offenders?
According to Gendreau (1996), the following principles are key aspects of what makes a treatment program effective for female offenders: 1) intensive behavioural strategies that are “enforced in a firm but fair manner” and a focus on the criminogenic needs of the offenders while promoting prosocial behaviour; 2) characteristics of programs, offenders, and therapist should …
How effective are community-based drug treatment programs for female offenders?
The FIT Program (Female Integrated Treatment Program) is a residential treatment program that offers integrated cognitive-behavioral treatment for substance use disorders, mental illness, and trauma related disorders, as well as vocational training, to female inmates. The Resolve Program which is a non-residential trauma treatment EBRR program for women has also been expanded …
What are the focus groups for gender-responsive strategies for women offenders?
Long-term residential treatment provides care 24 hours a day, generally in non-hospital settings. The best-known residential treatment model is the therapeutic community (TC), with planned lengths of stay of between 6 and 12 months. TCs focus on the "resocialization" of the individual and use the program’s entire community—including other ...
Which of the following is a difference between men's and women's prisons?
Is gender specific programming for female offenders important?
What are some unique challenges in dealing with female prisons?
- Separation from children and significant others. ...
- Lack of substance abuse treatment. ...
- Physical and mental health care. ...
- Vocation and educational programs. ...
- Sexual abuse. ...
- Disparate disciplinary practices.
Why is it particularly hard for female inmates to make a successful re entry into society?
Do female prisoners get bras?
What is gender-responsive treatment?
What are the special problems facing female inmates quizlet?
What challenges do female correctional officers face?
How do women's prisons differ from men's Why have women's prisons been studied less often than institutions for men?
Why are reentry programs important?
What can be done to help ex prisoners successfully reintegrate into the community?
How can we overcome institutionalization?
What are reentry programs aimed at?
Reentry programs aimed at female offenders should utilize actuarial screening instruments for substance use disorders, psychiatric disorders, and criminogenic risk that have been designed specifically for women, as well as implementing various programming elements that are gender informed.
What is gender responsive programming?
Gender-responsive programming begins with an assessment of each offender’s individual risks and needs and considers gender-specific variables particular to female prisoners, such as parent-child relationships, familial reunification, substance abuse, and mental and physical health needs. [15] .
Why do women need peer recovery specialists?
The use of peer recovery specialists may be particularly salient for female reentry for several reasons. Prior evidence suggests that women, on average, have stronger social bonds, feel more strongly about their interpersonal relationships, and view themselves through the lens of these relationships.
How many children do female prisoners have?
Unlike most male offenders, many of these incarcerated mothers have sole custody of their children and plan to resume their parenting role following release. The average female prisoner has about 2.5 children.
What is meta analysis?
[18] Meta-analysis is a statistical approach that improves on traditional methods of narrative review by systematically aggregating information and quantifying its impact. [19] Meta-analysis has several well-documented advantages, including increased statistical power, examination of intervening factors, and increased generalizability of results. In short, meta-analysis allows us to understand not only which factors impact prisoner reentry, but to what degree.
What are the advantages of meta analysis?
Meta-analysis has several well-documented advantages, including increased statistical power, examination of intervening factors, and increased generalizability of results. In short, meta-analysis allows us to understand not only which factors impact prisoner reentry, but to what degree.
What is therapeutic community?
Therapeutic communities are a participatory, group-based approach to substance abuse intervention where individuals work through recovery while living together in residential settings. A return to the therapeutic community model for incarcerated women can improve today’s reentry efforts for women.
What is the female offender manual?
The Program Statement, Female Offender Manual , is the agency's primary policy addressing the management of incarcerated women. The agency also issued an Operations Memorandum requiring all female sites provide five types of feminine hygiene products to inmates free-of-charge.
What is FIT program?
The FIT Program (Female Integrated Treatment Program) is a residential treatment program that offers integrated cognitive-behavioral treatment for substance use disorders, mental illness, and trauma related disorders, as well as vocational training, to female inmates.
How long can a mother stay with her baby in jail?
RPP allows minimum security inmates with a sentence of less than 30 months the opportunity to reside with their babies after birth in a supervised environment for up to 30 months. During this time, the mothers also receive a variety of services such a mental health, medical care, vocational training, and child care.
Can women be successful in therapeutic community?
Prior research has shown that the therapeutic community model, originally designed for men, can be successful for women if modified. For example, the success of women in therapeutic community programs is increased when the atmosphere is less confrontational and when female counselors are present. Additionally, women bring with them a host of personal issues-such as a history of sexual abuse and problems in maintaining relationships with their children-that must be addressed. These problems are distinct from those usually faced by male drug addicts.
Why were women in the Forever Free program chosen?
This group was chosen for comparison because participants had similar backgrounds and demographics and similar motivation for treatment (voluntary participation in substance abuse education). The women in both groups were about 35 years of age and averaged about 16 prior arrests and 8 prior incarcerations. Most had been incarcerated for a drug offense. In addition, they were poor, ethnically diverse, undereducated, and they worked in low paying jobs.
What is the Forever Free Program?
The Forever Free Program is a voluntary, intensive residential treatment program for women inmates with substance abuse problems at the California Institution for Women in Corona, California. The residential program is followed by voluntary community residential treatment during parole. Forever Free began as a 4-month program and has since returned to that duration; at the time of this evaluation, however, it was briefly extended into a 6-month program.
What is PTSD in prison?
Some incarcerated women receive a dual diagnosis of substance use disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can be recognized in women with extensive histories of interpersonal violence. PTSD can compound the effects of substance abuse and increase the chance of criminal recidivism.
How long does it take to recover from PTSD?
Three of the six women no longer met the criteria for PTSD 3 months after treatment-a significant finding given that most individuals who receive treatment for PTSD take, on average, 36 months to recover from this disorder.
What is a RIDOC program?
RIDOC offers female inmates programs addressing substance abuse, education and job training, life skills training, and emotional and mental health.
What is a ridoc?
RIDOC offers female inmates programs addressing substance abuse, education and job training, life skills training, and emotional and mental health. The study finds that the programs at RIDOC appear to be successfully matched to the needs of the steadily increasing population of female inmates.
Introduction
Over the past 25 years our knowledge and understanding of womens lives have increased dramatically. The new information has impacted and improved services for women in the fields of health, education, employment, mental health, substance abuse, and trauma treatment.
Profile of Women in the Criminal Justice System
In order to design system-wide that match the specific strengths and needs of the women, it is important to consider the demographics and history of the female offender population, as well as how various life factors impact womens patterns of offending.
Risk, Need, and Level of Burden
Throughout the 1990s, much of the research on correctional interventions was conducted by a group of Canadian psychologists who argued that it was possible to target the appropriate group of offenders with the appropriate type of treatment.
Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Trauma
In looking at the profile of women in the system, the differences between women and men, and the concept of level of burden, three critical and inter-related issues in womens lives can be seen: mental health, substance abuse, and trauma.
Plan for Reentry from the Beginning
If women are to be successfully reintegrated back into the community after serving their sentences, there must be a continuum of care that can connect them to a community following their release. In addition, the planning process must begin as soon as the woman begins serving her sentence, not conducted in just the final 30 to 60 days.
Gender-Responsive Models
Effective, gender-responsive models do exist for programs and agencies that provide for a continuity-of-care approach. The models described below are examples of interventions that can be used at various points within the criminal justice system.
RECOMMENDATIONS
All offenders have similar categories of needs. Both women and men under criminal justice supervision typically require substance-abuse treatment and vocational and educational training. Family and community reintegration issues are also shared, as are physical and mental health care.
What are the articles and reviews in federal probation?
The articles and reviews that appear in Federal Probation express the points of view of the persons who wrote them andnot necessarily the points of view of the agencies and organizations with which these persons are affiliated. Moreover,Federal Probation's publication of the articles and reviews is not to be taken as an endorsement of the material by theeditors, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, or the Federal Probation and Pretrial Services System. Published bythe Administrative Office of the United States Courts www.uscourts.gov
What issues did the client focus group address?
There was a general consensus that the top two issuesthat they needed and wanted to address while in treatment were their drug use and their familialrelationships. Many expressed a desire to really understand why they were using drugs. Thewomen who were mothers were very concerned about the effects of their drug use and lifestylein general on their children. On the other end of the spectrum, some women wanted to deal withtheir own childhood issues and how relationships with their parents played a part in their druguse.
The Nature of Female Offending and The Rise of Gender-Responsive Programming
Reentry Programming For Women
- Women reentering society from prison face both similar and unique challenges relative to males who are incarcerated. Compared to men, females who are incarcerated are more likely to be economically disadvantaged, regular users of drugs, and victims of abuse and maltreatment. They are more likely to suffer from mental illness or co-occurring disorde...
Analyses of Gender-Specific Reentry Models
- Although a number of narrative or qualitative reviews of female reentry programs have been published, this article specifically addresses the results from a series of meta-analyses. Meta-analysis is a statistical approach that improves on traditional methods of narrative review by systematically aggregating information and quantifying its impact.Meta-analysis has several wel…
Comparing Female Gender-Specific Reentry Models
- Interventions focused on substance abuse had significantly larger effects, as did programs that employed therapeutic communities. Interventions offered in an institution or those that bridged the institution and the community were also more effective than those administered in the community alone. When only experimental designs were included in the meta-analysis (excludin…
Recommendations For Policy and Practice
- Recommendations for policy and practice In light of the foregoing developments related to challenges facing women in reentry, the author offers the following policy and practice recommendations: