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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
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Results for gender specific responses
16 results foundAuthor: Watson, Liz Title: Improving the Juvenile Justice System for Girls: Lessons from the States Summary: Improving the Juvenile Justice System for Girls: Lessons from the States examines the challenges facing girls in the juvenile justice system and makes recommendations for gender-responsive reform at the local, state, and federal levels. This report emerged from the policy series—Marginalized Girls: Creating Pathways to Opportunity—convened by the Georgetown Center on Poverty, Inequality, and Public Policy, The National Crittenton Foundation, and the Human Rights Project for Girls. The series focuses on improving public systems’ responses to the challenges facing marginalized girls and young women. The problems facing girls in the juvenile justice system were among the first issues to be addressed in the policy series, in a meeting held at Georgetown University Law Center on September 23, 2011. State reformers, national policy experts, advocates, practitioners, researchers and girls made contributions and insights during that meeting that inspired this report. Girls make up a growing percentage of the juvenile justice population, and a significant body of research and practice shows that their needs are not being met by a juvenile justice system that was designed for boys. The typical girl in the system is a non-violent offender, who is very often low-risk, but high-need, meaning the girl poses little risk to the public but she enters the system with significant and pressing personal needs. The set of challenges that girls often face as they enter the juvenile justice system include trauma, violence, neglect, mental and physical problems, family conflict, pregnancy, residential and academic instability, and school failure. The juvenile justice system only exacerbates these problems by failing to provide girls with services at the time when they need them most. During the past twenty years, there has been a growing effort to reform the juvenile justice system for girls on the local, state, and federal level. This report chronicles the history of those efforts and renews the drumbeat for reform, urging more advocates to take up the cause of girls in the juvenile justice system. To facilitate their efforts, this report provides: • A review of literature documenting girls’ particular pathways into the juvenile justice system • A brief history of recent gender-responsive, traumainformed reform efforts • Detailed case studies of recent reform efforts in three jurisdictions: Connecticut, Florida, and Stanislaus County, California. Details: Washington, DC: Georgetown Center on Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy, 2012. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 25, 2012 at: http://www.law.georgetown.edu/academics/centers-institutes/poverty-inequality/upload/JDS_V1R4_Web_Singles.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.law.georgetown.edu/academics/centers-institutes/poverty-inequality/upload/JDS_V1R4_Web_Singles.pdf Shelf Number: 126802 Keywords: Female Juvenile Offenders (U.S.)Gender Specific ResponsesJuvenile Justice ReformJuvenile Justice System |
Author: Penal Reform International Title: Neglected Needs: Girls in the Criminal Justice System Summary: Girls are one of the most vulnerable groups involved in criminal justice systems because of their age, gender and small numbers. Relatively little is known or understood about offending by girls, their specific needs whilst in detention, or about what is effective in terms of gender-sensitive rehabilitation and social reintegration measures. This paper examines the specific challenges faced by girls in contact with the criminal justice system and makes recommendations for strengthening the protection of their rights. It explores how girls face discriminatory treatment in terms of the type of offences for which they are detained, their access to fair trial guarantees, and the lack of suitable alternatives to detention. It then looks at some of the specific challenges faced by girls in detention and the international and regional standards in place to address these, focusing on: - protection from violence - access to adequate healthcare - provision of rehabilitation and reintegration services - access to effective remedy. Details: London: Penal Reform International, 2014. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 17, 2014 at: http://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/girls-crim-just-v4.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/girls-crim-just-v4.pdf Shelf Number: 131946 Keywords: Female OffendersGender Specific ResponsesJuvenile Detention |
Author: Booth, Laura Title: Effective Correctional Programs for Women Offenders Summary: The provision of effective correctional programming is central to the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) in achieving its goal of successful offender rehabilitation. Accordingly, the current Program Strategy for Women Offenders suggests that the goals of successful rehabilitation are best achieved by providing programming that follows empirically supported elements of the risk-need-responsivity (RNR) programming model within a gender-responsive framework. CSC maintains that programs should be women-centered, holistic, and acknowledge the diversity of women offenders within a supportive environment. The purpose of the current study was to assess the extent to which correctional programming for women offenders successfully integrates both the traditional programming aspects of the RNR model and the principles of gender-responsive programming, as outlined in the Program Strategy for Women Offenders. The Women's Violence Prevention Program (WVPP) and the Women Offender Substance Abuse Program (WOSAP) were used in the current analysis as examples of programs developed by CSC following a gender-responsive structure. Data were collected regarding these programs via a series of assessments and reviews during three separate stages with three different groups of participants. In the first stage, key informants involved in program development and facilitation participated in the completion of the Correctional Program Assessment Inventory 2000 (CPAI - 2000; Gendreau & Andrews, 2001) and the Gender-Responsive Program Assessment (GRPA; Covington, 2007). The second stage involved staff facilitators of the aforementioned programs who completed self-report measures including the Gender-Responsive Questionnaire (GRQ) - Staff Version and the Effective Treatment Element Questionnaire (ETEQ; Nesovic, 2003). In the final stage, women offenders who had completed WVPP or any phase of WOSAP from two federal institutions, (Grand Valley Institution for Women and Nova Institution for Women), participated in an interview-based questionnaire. A total of 15 staff facilitators and 15 women offenders participated. Overall, responses from both staff and offenders supported the effective integration of RNR principles within a gender-responsive framework. One area of concern that was highlighted by both staff and women was limitations in the provision of culturally sensitive programming. Responses also indicated certain gaps in the provision of ongoing support and booster sessions, while staff noted operational issues impacting the provision of programs such as high staff turnover and limited funding. Although the current research is preliminary in nature and needs to be interpreted with caution given small sample sizes, results do support CSC's ability to target established elements of correctional programming while implementing a gender-responsive approach. Results also suggest that a continued focus on the provision of culturally sensitive programming within the gender-responsive framework is needed. Additionally, in order to facilitate successful program implementation, operational and implementation issues related to staffing and ongoing supervision are other areas that warrant additional attention. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2012. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: 2012 No. R-279: Accessed April 7, 2014 at: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cn21543-eng.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Canada URL: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cn21543-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 132042 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale OffendersGender Specific ResponsesTreatment Programs |
Author: Earle, Jenny Title: Brighter Futures: Working Together to Reduce Women's Offending Summary: This briefing is intended to: Raise awareness among justice, community and health service providers and commissioners about the characteristics and needs of women who come into contact with the criminal justice system, and their obligations to meet those needs. - Provide an overview of multi-agency approaches, such as Liaison and Diversion services and Integrated Offender Management (IOM) arrangements, and illustrate improved outcomes for women and their families as a result of effective local partnerships. - Ensure women-specific provision is included in the commissioning of Liaison and Diversion and other early intervention services. - Inform and encourage the development of alternatives to prosecution where these are proportionate and effective responses to women who offend. - Provide examples of good practice where women are enabled to take responsibility for their lives, and continue caring for their children and other dependants wherever possible. - Help inform current practice and encourage agencies to continue to develop services and approaches that meet the needs of women, and build a robust evidence base on what works. - Encourage the development of co-ordinated local strategies and services to support women with multiple needs, including those being supervised in the community. Women account for a minority of all those coming into contact with criminal justice agencies, and their specific circumstances and needs are often overlooked or misunderstood by a system which has largely developed in response to men's offending profile and behaviour. Most women who enter custody under sentence serve short prison sentences for petty but sometimes persistent offending, and many have themselves been victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Many are mothers so the consequences of criminal sanctions rebound on their children. Some have been trafficked and coerced into offending but not identified as victims of trafficking and given the help to which they are entitled. The briefing highlights the specific needs of women, profiles existing initiatives and partnerships that seek to deal more effectively with women's offending, and provides links to other useful resources. It should be of interest to those with policy, funding, commissioning and service delivery responsibilities. Details: London: Prison Reform Trust, 2014. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 24, 2014 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Brighter%20Futures%2025314web.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Brighter%20Futures%2025314web.pdf Shelf Number: 132174 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale Offenders (U.K.)Gender Specific Responses |
Author: Foley, Jillian Title: Gender-Responsive Policies and Practices in Maine: What Incarcerated Women at the Women's Center Say They Need from the Criminal Justice System Summary: Female offenders have unique experiences that have led to their incarceration compared to men. Maine women offenders are no exception to this fact. These women, while incarcerated are still mothers, grandmothers, daughters, friends, business owners, students, and members of our community. Incarcerated women need the same things we all need: to feel respected, to have hope for the future, to be able to support themselves financially, and to feel connected to their families, friends, and community. Research shows that some of the most important factors that can help reduce recidivism among women is to ensure they can support themselves and their families through gainful employment, have a support system in place to deal with any mental health, trauma related, or substance abuse issues, and have a pro-social peer and family support network. Corrections facilities are designed with the purpose to "correct" the criminal behavior that has resulted in incarceration, and therefore should focus their policies, practices, and programs on those risk factors and needs that will help to achieve this goal. In order to reduce recidivism and truly help these women, criminal justice systems must implement gender-responsive policies that address the distinct needs and experiences of incarcerated women. The purpose of this study was to give a voice to Maine's incarcerated women and potentially influence the ongoing policy revision process in Maine. The researcher conducted 3 focus groups with 18 residents of the Women's Center- a gender-responsive facility that houses about 70 to 80 incarcerated women at the Maine Correctional Facility in Windham, ME. Researchers wanted to know what works well at the women's center, what does not work, and how the women felt the policies could be improved to better fit their needs as incarcerated women. The perspectives of the participants varied, however, the findings of the study were largely in line with the literature guidelines for gender-responsive policies and practices. The participants expressed a desire for an environment where they can feel safe, respected and empowered to change their lives for the better. In order to live independent, crime free lives after they leave, the participants said they need more hands on, concrete re-entry planning and help finding supports in the community they are returning to. The women also expressed a need for job training and experience. For many of these women the most important motivation to change was the connection to their families and the hope for re-unification. In order to address these needs, gender-responsive policies and practices need to be developed and consistently implemented. Details: Portland, ME: Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, 2012. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: http://usm.maine.edu/sites/default/files/cmhs/Jillian%20Foley%20Capstone.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://usm.maine.edu/sites/default/files/cmhs/Jillian%20Foley%20Capstone.pdf Shelf Number: 132359 Keywords: Correctional ProgramFemale InmatesFemale Offenders (U.S.)Female PrisonersGender Specific ResponsesPrisoner Reentry |
Author: Radcliffe, Polly Title: The development and impact of community services for women offenders: an evaluation Summary: This evaluation examined six services developed in third sector partnerships for women offenders in the community. The study was designed to capture best practice in services which were known to be at risk of funding cuts. The research which included interviews with staff, stakeholders and service users, examination of project documents and the collection of monitoring data, took place in 2011/2012, one year into an initiative to extend the limited network of 'one stop shop' services for low risk women offenders. A number of evaluations had already established the value of providing holistic services to women offenders in women-only settings, particularly for those who have suffered sexual and physical violence. There has however continued to be a shortage of evidence about the impact of these services on reoffending outcomes. As we describe, a combination of factors, including a lack of any common measurement system, has meant that reoffending data have not been consistently collected in the services that took part in our evaluation. We make recommendations for ways in which such services might in the future map women's interim progress; progress that is so richly described in the qualitative accounts of service users, staff and stakeholders. In many ways this evaluation charts the opening of a 'policy window' that we very much hope will not be closed in the new environment of Payment by Results contracts in England and Wales. Deaths of women in custody; lobbying by campaigning groups and charitable organisations; the publication of a series of influential reports describing the exponential rise in the imprisonment of low-risk women offenders and an increasing body of evidence that showed that such imprisonment served to exacerbate the psychological strain, substance misuse and anguish that accompanies so much of women's offending, had created a consensus that made government action possible. Short-term government funds were found for the extension of an existing model of one-stop-shop service for low-risk women offenders. The new network of services was developed in hastily constructed third sector/statutory sector partnerships with the hope that they would become integrated into mainstream commissioning arrangements. As we will show, these new services have been innovative in their linking of third and statutory sector, criminal justice, health and welfare and women-specific agencies. They have achieved much within short timescales and in many ways have presented new challenges in multiagency working. In the current climate of economic austerity and belt tightening, we hope that our report will provide evidence of how such challenges can be overcome and contribute to existing learning on the provision of services for women offenders in the community. Details: London: The Institute for Criminal Policy Research, School of Law, Birkbeck College, 2013. 94p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 24, 2014 at: http://www.icpr.org.uk/media/34025/ReportNuffieldfinal.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.icpr.org.uk/media/34025/ReportNuffieldfinal.pdf Shelf Number: 133406 Keywords: Community OrganizationsCommunity ParticipationFemale Offenders (U.K.)Gender Specific ResponsesOffender Rehabilitation |
Author: van der Gaag, Nikki Title: Because I am a Girl: The State of the World's Girls 2011: So What About Boys? Summary: Why should boys and young men care about gender equality? 1.Girls' and women's rights are human rights. If men and boys believe in justice and fairness, they will be able to see that their mothers, sisters and girlfriends are often not treated the same way as they are, do not enjoy the same level of respect in the community, and do not have the same opportunities to make choices about their lives. 2.Greater gender equality will help boys to succeed in school, to be comfortable with their own identity, to be confident in expressing emotions and to be equipped with the skills to build positive relationships of mutual trust and respect. 3.Gender equality has often meant more freedom for girls and women to define themselves in new ways, but little corresponding change for boys and men. A new perspective on gender is about a more productive way of viewing power relationships to the benefit of both sexes. Details: Toronto: Plan International, 2011. 206p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 20, 2014 at: http://plancanada.ca/Downloads/BIAAG/GirlReport/BIAAG-Report-2011-prerelease.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://plancanada.ca/Downloads/BIAAG/GirlReport/BIAAG-Report-2011-prerelease.pdf Shelf Number: 133749 Keywords: Gender EqualityGender Specific Responses |
Author: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Office of Research Title: Female Realignment Report: An Examination of Female Offenders Released from State Prison in the First Year of Public Safety Realignment Summary: California's Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011 transferred jurisdiction and funding for managing lower-level criminal offenders from the State to the counties. Under Realignment, for example, certain lower level felons now serve their felony sentences in jail rather than prison. Realignment also changed California's system of community corrections. Prior to Realignment, State parole agents supervised every female inmate released from prison, and parole violators could be revoked to State prison for up to one year. Since October 1, 2011, probation departments have administered a system of post-release community supervision (PRCS) to complement State parole. State parole agents continue to supervise high-risk sex offenders, lifers, and any other female offenders who are released from prison after having been incarcerated for a current/prior serious or violent crime. All other female inmates released from prison are placed on PRCS. No offenders received an early release from prison under Realignment. If offenders violate the terms of PRCS or State parole supervision, a range of sanctions may be used by counties, including a revocation term in jail. Only certain offenders are eligible for revocation to State prison. Prior Realignment research conducted by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) evaluated all offenders. This report examines arrest, convictions, and returns to prison for female offenders pre- and post-Realignment. Female offenders have "distinct rehabilitative and health care needs, and are more likely to have suffered trauma and abuse prior to incarceration" (California Association of Drug Court Professionals, 2012). As such, CDCR is committed to providing gender-responsive programs and services to meet those needs and, ultimately, increase successful return to society for our female population. CDCR now has one year of releases and one full year of follow-up data to evaluate how female offenders released from prison during the first year after implementation have fared. Note that a more complete examination of Realignment's impact on female offenders would require a three-year follow-up period. Methodology For this study, we identified two cohorts of female offenders: 1) the Pre-Realignment cohort of female offenders released between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011; and, 2) the Post-Realignment cohort of female offenders released between October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2012. One-year post-release recidivism rates were tracked for both cohorts to see if they were re-arrested, convicted of a new crime, or returned to State prison. Sound methodology and procedures were followed for this study; however, the study focuses on only one year of releases, representing an early stage of post-Realignment activity and implementation. Therefore, caution should be used when interpreting the findings. Details: Sacramento: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2014. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 10, 2014 at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/adult_research_branch/Research_Documents/Female%20One%20Yr%20Pre-Post-Realignment%20Recidivism%20Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/adult_research_branch/Research_Documents/Female%20One%20Yr%20Pre-Post-Realignment%20Recidivism%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 134014 Keywords: California Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011Community SupervisionFemale OffendersGender Specific ResponsesProbationRecidivismRevocation |
Author: Great Britain. HM Inspectorate of Probation Title: Girls in the Criminal Justice System: A Joint Inspection Summary: In England and Wales, girls comprise around 20% of the caseload of youth offending services. We know from previous inspections that girls tend to commit less serious offences than boys, and their offending is often a response to emotional well-being and issues concerning relationships with parents, partners and friends. Girls tend to have high levels of welfare needs and are vulnerable to the actions of others. Because of their relatively low number the needs of girls can sometimes be overlooked within a juvenile criminal justice system primarily designed to deal with offending by boys. There has also been significant concern recently about the prevalence of child sexual exploitation in a number of areas where vulnerable girls have been victims. The inspection This inspection was agreed by the Criminal Justice Chief Inspectors' Group and formed part of the work stream identified in the Joint Inspection Business Plan 2012-2014. The objective of the inspection was to assess the effectiveness of youth offending services, in conjunction with other organisations, in reducing the likelihood of girls offending and in reducing the risk of harm girls present to others and making them less vulnerable (with particular reference to alcohol misuse). We visited six Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) to assess the quality of work in a sample of 48 cases. We also interviewed key managers and operational staff in the YOTs and other agencies. We also interviewed 20 girls who were serving sentences in custody and custody staff. Overall findings The best work in YOTs was characterised by an approach to assessment and intervention that recognised that girls often had different needs to boys. The assessment and management of the risk of harm posed by girls to others was generally sound and there were some promising examples of interventions that were designed for girls. Unfortunately, this approach was not consistently applied. In some cases, assessments and interventions did not take into account gender differences. Many of the girls were vulnerable and presented challenges to those who worked with them. Efforts were made to reduce this vulnerability, but in too many cases there was a preoccupation with process rather than effective action. Child sexual exploitation presented a serious risk to girls in all the areas we visited. We saw some effective preventative work to help girls understand the risk in their lives and increase their resilience. However, the responses to girls who were victims of sexual exploitation were highly variable in quality and effectiveness and the links between their offending behaviour and the serious risk of harm that they faced were not always considered properly. Although all areas had multi-agency procedures to identify girls at risk of sexual exploitation, these often concentrated more on information sharing rather than targeting work to reduce risks to them. Girls in custody spoke positively about staff and their key workers. These relationships had helped them to develop good insight into what they needed to do in order to resettle successfully on release. However, work to address offending behaviour in custody was often not recognised as such by girls, and YOT workers could do more to maintain or build relationships with girls in custody in preparation for their release. More work needed to be done in monitoring performance data about girls by YOT managers in order to target interventions more effectively and improve outcomes. Details: London: Criminal Justice Inspection, 2014. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 26, 2015 at: http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/12/Girls-in-the-Criminal-Justice-System.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/12/Girls-in-the-Criminal-Justice-System.pdf Shelf Number: 134724 Keywords: Child Sexual ExploitationFemale Juvenile OffendersGender Specific ResponsesJuvenile DetentionJuvenile InmatesJuvenile Offenders (U.K.) |
Author: Canada. Office of the Correctional Investigator Title: Risky Business: An Investigation of the Treatment and Management of Chronic Self-Injury Among Federally Sentenced Women Final Report Summary: Over the last five years the number of self-injury incidents in federal correctional facilities has more than tripled. In 2012-13, there were 901 incidents of recorded prison self-injury, involving 264 offenders. A relatively small number of federally sentenced women offenders (37 of 264 total) disproportionately accounted for almost 36% of all reported self-injury incidents. Aboriginal offenders were involved in more than 35% of all self-harming incidents. Aboriginal women accounted for nearly 45% of all self-injury incidents involving the federally sentenced women offender population. Of the 264 federal offenders who self-injured in 2012-13, seventeen individuals engaged in chronic (or repetitive) self-injurious behaviour (i.e., 10 or more incidents). These 17 individuals accounted for 40% of all recorded incidents. Nine were of Aboriginal descent. Nine were women (6 of whom were Aboriginal offenders). In a series of Annual Reports, the Office has repeatedly raised concerns regarding the capacity of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) to appropriately manage chronic self-injury in federal penitentiaries: - over-reliance on use of force and control measures, such as physical restraints, and restrictions on movement and association to manage self-injurious offenders; - non-compliance with voluntary and informed consent to treatment protocols; - limited access to services for federally sentenced women offenders with complex mental health needs; - inadequate physical infrastructure, staffing complements, resources and capacity to meet complex mental health needs; and - inappropriate monitoring and inadequate oversight in the use of physical restraints. There is little doubt that management of self-injurious offenders is complex and demanding work. The Office continues to believe that a handful of the most prolific self-injurious offenders simply do not belong in a federal penitentiary. These offenders should be transferred to external psychiatric facilities that are better equipped to accommodate and care for acute and complex mental health needs underlying their self-injurious behaviours. The death in October 2007 of 19-year-old Ashley Smith, a young woman with an extensive history of self-injury who died as a result self-asphyxiation in the presence of CSC staff, underscored the importance of developing effective, evidence-based management and treatment strategies for complex self-injury cases. The Office's investigation into Ms. Smith's death revealed a number of individual and systemic failures that contributed to her tragic death. During 11.5 months of federal incarceration, Ashley's self-injurious behaviours were routinely met with control and security-focused interventions, which included the near-perpetual use of segregation, involuntary treatment (forced medical injections), numerous inter-regional transfers and over 150 documented use of force interventions. CSC's management of Ashley's behaviour served to intensify the frequency and severity of her self-injury. This investigation provides an opportunity to review CSC's capacity to balance the operational and treatment requirements of high-need, mentally ill federally sentenced women who engage in chronic self-injurious behaviour. Six years after Ashley Smith's preventable death, it serves to document how CSC responds to the mental health needs of these women and assesses the use and impact of disciplinary measures and security controls in the management and prevention of prison self-injury. Details: Ottawa: Office of the Correctional Investigator, 2013. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2015 at: http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/pdf/oth-aut/oth-aut20130930-eng.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Canada URL: http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/pdf/oth-aut/oth-aut20130930-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 135882 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale PrisonersGender Specific ResponsesMentally Ill InmatesPrisonsSelf-Injury |
Author: Millenky, Megan Title: Preventing Juvenile Justice Involvement for Young Women. An Introduction to an Evaluation of the PACE Center for Girls Summary: Involvement in the juvenile justice system has tremendous costs for the individuals within it, as well as for society. Such involvement may damage a child's relationships with friends and family, negatively affect mental health, and interrupt the academic progress and work experience that should accumulate during adolescence. On the societal level, the United States spends up to $88,000 per year on each individual placed in a juvenile corrections facility. Therefore, prevention or early intervention programs that help young people avoid involvement in the juvenile system in the first place offer a significant return on investment, and professionals in the field have focused on identifying and evaluating such promising approaches. Increasingly, girls are making up a larger proportion of those involved with the juvenile justice system. Although the juvenile confinement rate is declining, and juvenile arrest rates are slowing overall, girls are seeing less of an improvement than boys. Specifically, from 2001 to 2010 boys' arrest rates decreased by 26.5 percent, while girls' arrest rates decreased by only 15.5 percent. Yet the current juvenile justice system is not well positioned to meet the particular needs of girls, as most services are rooted in research based on the needs of boys. Girls at risk of juvenile delinquency have a specific profile that differs from that of their male counterparts: They are more often detained for non-serious offenses, such as truancy or violating probation, and more often enter the juvenile justice system with a history of physical or sexual abuse.6 According to a recent report by the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality, "the juvenile justice system only exacerbates [the girls'] problems by failing to provide girls with services at the time when they need them most." One program that directly addresses this challenge is PACE Center for Girls. This "gender-responsive" program serving communities in Florida - perhaps the largest and most well-established of its kind - aims to prevent girls' involvement in the juvenile justice system. This brief describes an ongoing evaluation of PACE that will help policymakers and practitioners understand and strengthen the program's effects for at-risk girls on a range of outcomes, including education, delinquency, risky behavior, social support, and mental health. More broadly, the study will inform the national dialogue about how to better serve such girls. Details: New York: MDRC, 2016. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Brief: Accessed January 28, 2016 at: http://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/Preventing_Juvenile_Justice_Involvement_2016.pdf?utm_source=MDRC+Updates&utm_campaign=af3e0f7338-January_28_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_504d5ac165-af3e0f7338-42214305 Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/Preventing_Juvenile_Justice_Involvement_2016.pdf?utm_source=MDRC+Updates&utm_campaign=af3e0f7338-January_28_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_504d5ac165-af3e0f7338-42214305 Shelf Number: 137698 Keywords: At-Risk YouthDelinquency PreventionFemale DelinquentsGender Specific Responses |
Author: Mc Hugh, Rosemarie Title: Tracking the Needs and Service Provision for Women Ex-Prisoners Summary: This paper presents the findings of research conducted with female prisoners serving short sentences in the Dochas Centre. The research focussed in particular on the needs of this cohort of women upon leaving prison. 16 women were interviewed within the Dochas Centre; the study was primarily a qualitative one which aimed to understand the subjective experiences of the women and communicate their stories by giving primacy to the women's own 'voices'. Findings While each individual woman's story is unique there were significant patterns across the group. The profile of the group and the women's individual recounts of their life histories and experiences demonstrate a high incidence of deprivation, disadvantage, vulnerability and marginalisation. In this study this marginalisation was characterised by some or more of the following - unstable family backgrounds, care outside the home, homelessness, poor schooling, early engagement with the criminal justice system, childhood sexual abuse, intimate partner abuse, other sexual and physical abuse, little or no employment history, substance abuse, inability to care for their children, hospitalisation and treatment units, and significant mental and emotional health needs. The majority of women had little or no formal educational qualifications and little or no histories of employment, with social welfare being the main source of income for the vast majority of women. 14 of the 16 women had experienced homelessness at some point in their lives with the vast majority experiencing repeat incidences of homelessness. 13 of the 16 women had a substance abuse problem at some stage in their lives, often commencing at an early age, with many having long term substance abuse problems. Three quarters of the women had experienced violence or abuse of some form either as a child or as an adult, with three quarters of these, in turn, experiencing repeat victimisation. The women also revealed significant mental and emotional health needs including a high incidence of depression. This study also found that these women demonstrated a resource-poor network. This was demonstrable within the women's stories by the low level of contact with family members and the low volume, frequency and expectation of visits while imprisoned. It was also demonstrable in the lack of knowledge of supports available within the community and the fact that many referred to learning about available services and feeling more supported within the prison. Many of the women had extensive engagement with the criminal justice system from an early age and over a long period of time. However, the majority of crimes were low level addiction related crimes - theft, public order and drug offences. The majority identified themselves primarily as addicts as opposed to offenders and described their offending histories as inherently tied to their addictions, suggesting a sense of control over their offending but not their substance abuse. The culmination of the above means that the needs of the majority of these women, whether in prison or in the community, were multiple, complex and highly intertwined. Thus, their post release needs are extensive and challenging. The study suggests that we may need to reconceptualise what can, or should be, expected in terms of individual desistance from these women, who have been cycling in and out of criminal justice involvement from an early age, often with significant substance abuse problems, high incidences of trauma and victimisation and considerable mental and emotional health needs. It also poses questions, based on the women's own understanding and experiences, as to the adequacy of supports and services available to these women within the community. The findings of this study also align with international research that both the triggers of female offending and the post release needs are extremely different for female offenders compared to that of their male counterparts and further emphasises the need for a gender specific approach. Details: Dublin: Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development, 2013. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 25, 2016 at: http://www.acjrd.ie/files/Tracking_the_needs_and_service_provision_for_women_ex-prisoners_-_Final.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland URL: http://www.acjrd.ie/files/Tracking_the_needs_and_service_provision_for_women_ex-prisoners_-_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 137969 Keywords: Female Ex-OffendersFemale OffendersFemale PrisonersGender Specific ResponsesPrisoner Reentry |
Author: Prison Reform Trust Title: International Good Practice: Alternatives to imprisonment for women offenders Summary: This report presents a wide range of international examples of alternatives to custody for nonviolent women offenders. It profiles a number of dynamic projects in different jurisdictions, some of which have proven to be particularly successful in reducing reoffending in women offenders. Due to both time constraints and the availability of research evidence, the report uses information from predominantly Western countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. European examples are used where available and relevant. The women's prison population in England and Wales more than doubled between 1995 and 2010 and, although numbers are starting to decline somewhat, approximately 13,500 women are sent to prison each year in the UK. This is one of the highest rates of women's imprisonment in Western Europe. The human, social and financial costs are considerable. Women in prison are ten times more likely than men to harm themselves, Most women are imprisoned for short periods and they have very high reconviction rates, suggesting that for many prison is neither rehabilitative nor a deterrent. Many of the women sent to prison are mothers, compounding and prolonging the detrimental impact. According to one survey, six in ten women in prison had dependent children (on average two children.) At least a third of mothers are lone parents before imprisonment. In 2010, more than 17,000 children were separated from their mothers by imprisonment. For eight out of ten children, it's the first time they have been separated from their mums for more than a day or so. Innovative approaches are needed if these damaging impacts are to be significantly reduced. Various studies have shown that non-custodial programmes are significantly more cost-effective than imprisoning women who offender. The average annual cost of a woman's imprisonment in England and Wales today stands at L56,415 compared to a Community Order cost of L2,800 per year, and an average of L1,300 for standalone community-based services. From early intervention strategies to resettlement programmes, this report outlines a range of alternatives to imprisonment for women offenders. These include inter alia women's centres and one-stop-shops, community residential alternatives, and small units designed to accommodate women offenders. Focusing on a diverse range of alternatives emphasises the specific issues faced by women in the criminal justice systems across the world such as mental health needs, exposure to domestic and sexual abuse, drug and alcohol use, and homelessness. By addressing the factors that underlie women's offending, we are better able to generate sustainable alternatives that have the potential to significantly reduce offending. This research has been exclusively desk-based and as such makes extensive use of studies undertaken and statistics presented by academics, policy-makers, and international agencies. It focuses predominantly on non-violent adult women offenders, although some reference is made to young women offenders, older women offenders, and women sentenced for serious and violent crimes. It does not present a rigorous comparative analysis of different approaches but does include as much evaluative evidence as possible for the different initiatives. In October 2013 the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its causes and consequences, presented a new report to the UN General Assembly, Pathways to, conditions and consequences of incarceration of women. It illustrates the strong link between violence against women and women's imprisonment - prior to, during and after prison. That report examines the causes, conditions and consequences of women's incarceration and is a timely and forceful reminder of why alternatives to incarceration are so badly needed. Academic experts and practitioners concur that, if they are to work for women, services and interventions must be 'gender-responsive'. Gender-responsive practice can be divided into five parts: - relational - recognising that women develop self-worth through their relationships with others and are motivated by their connections with other people - strengths-based - using each woman's individual strengths to develop empowered decisions - trauma-informed - recognising the ways in which histories of trauma and abuse impact upon a woman's involvement in the criminal justice system - holistic - providing a comprehensive model that addresses the multiple and complex needs of women offenders - culturally-informed - services recognise and respond to the diverse cultural backgrounds of women offenders. The information provided about the different programmes and services profiled in this report is organised thematically, as is evident from the chapter headings. The same service may be described under more than one heading where it provides for a range of needs or different groups. This is indicated by a cross reference at the beginning of a project. All the material is extensively referenced, enabling the reader to investigate particular projects further. Details: London: PRT, 2015. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 5, 2016 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/portals/0/documents/international%20good%20practice%20final.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/portals/0/documents/international%20good%20practice%20final.pdf Shelf Number: 138114 Keywords: Alternatives to incarcerationChildren of PrisonersFemale OffendersGender Specific ResponsesGender-Based Programs |
Author: Atella, Julie Title: Evaluation of RADIUS: A Program for Justice-Involved Girls in the Twin Cities Summary: Operating continuously since 2000, Radius serves approximately 90 girls in Hennepin County, Minnesota each year. The program has three regions, North Minneapolis, South Minneapolis, and Hennepin County suburbs. Justice-involved girls ages 12 through 18 can be referred to Radius by probation officers or courts. The program combines multiple best practice approaches for working with girls including focusing on strengths, including families, offering a safe space to share experiences, hiring trained and effective staff, and conducting girls-only groups to encourage sharing. The Radius model involves four main components: weekly girls groups, individual counseling and case management, restorative justice talking circles, and resource referrals. Methods From October 2011 through December 2014, Wilder Research collected multiple types of data including: - Key informant interviews with Radius clients and their family members - Annual key informant interviews with Radius staff and county probation - Radius client pre- and post-program surveys - Comparison analysis using data from the Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department (HSPHD) and the Hennepin County Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCCR) The results from these data collection activities were synthesized to produce the key findings and recommendations included in this report. Details: St. Paul, MN: Wilder Research, 2015. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 22, 2016 at: http://www.wilder.org/Wilder-Research/Publications/Studies/Radius/Evaluation%20of%20Radius%20-%20A%20Program%20for%20Justice-Involved%20Girls%20in%20the%20Twin%20Cities.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.wilder.org/Wilder-Research/Publications/Studies/Radius/Evaluation%20of%20Radius%20-%20A%20Program%20for%20Justice-Involved%20Girls%20in%20the%20Twin%20Cities.pdf Shelf Number: 138371 Keywords: Case ManagementCounselingDelinquent GirlsGender Specific ResponsesJustice-Involved GirlsRestorative Justice |
Author: Prison Reform Trust Title: Working it out: Employment for women offenders Summary: Executive summary - Employment outcomes for women following short prison sentences are three times worse than for men - fewer than one in ten women have a job to go to on release - Lack of childcare support, lack of qualifications, and low pay are barriers to employment for many women offenders - Employment is one of the nine pathways to reducing reoffending for women but much more can be done to tackle employer prejudice and reluctance to employ former offenders - Lack of women-only unpaid work placements constrains the use of appropriate community sentences for women - Community services such as women's centres are uniquely placed to help women offenders, and those at risk of offending, address individual barriers to employment and support them to build the skills, training and confidence they need to get ready for work - Women are more likely than men to have claimed out-of-work benefits prior to, and post, time in custody - In a recent survey of women prisoners, 61% said they would like paid employment of some kind on release, with a further 27% wanting to do voluntary work - The release on temporary licence (ROTL) scheme facilitates day-release for women in prison to undertake work and training opportunities in the community and reduces the risk of reoffending but is underused and under threat - The new statutory provision requiring probation and resettlement services to identify and address women's specific rehabilitation needs must be carefully monitored to ensure it delivers the intended improvements, particularly to employment opportunities and outcomes - The government should implement a strategy to increase employment opportunities and programmes for women with criminal convictions - this should include employer incentives. Details: London: Prison Reform Trust, 2015. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 25, 2016 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Women/Employmentbriefing.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Women/Employmentbriefing.pdf Shelf Number: 139851 Keywords: Ex-Offender EmploymentFemale OffendersGender Specific ResponsesPrisoner Reentry |
Author: Millenky, Megan Title: Focusing on Girls' Futures: Results from the Evaluation of Pace Center for Girls Summary: PACE Center for Girls is a Florida-based organization that provides academic and social services to girls of middle school and high school age. Girls who attend PACE have a specific set of characteristics that put them at risk of involvement with the juvenile justice system and other negative outcomes. PACE seeks to reduce the likelihood of negative outcomes tied to this profile and instead foster academic engagement, positive youth development, and healthy relationships. Such factors can help improve girls’ academic outcomes, prevent their future involvement with the justice system, and lead to long-term well-being and success. PACE operates daily, year-round; on a typical day, girls attend academic classes and receive additional support such as individual counseling, academic advising, and referrals to other services. Throughout its delivery of these services, PACE uses principles of gender-responsive programming - that is, treatment approaches designed for girls and women. The current report focuses mainly on the impact and cost analyses for the PACE evaluation. (Implementation research findings, released in an earlier report, found that PACE consistently implemented its program model and incorporated gender-responsive programming across its centers.) The impact analysis employed a random assignment design: Girls who applied to and were deemed eligible for PACE (using the program's existing screening processes) enrolled in the study and were assigned at random either to a program group, whose members were offered PACE services, or to a control group, whose members received appropriate referrals to other services in the community. From August 2013 to November 2015, 1,125 girls enrolled in the study across 14 PACE centers. Using survey and administrative data, the research team measured differences between the program and control groups on short-term outcomes. Differences that emerge between the two groups on these outcomes can be attributed to the PACE program. Key Findings - The program group received more academic and social services - and received them more often from a professional source - than the control group. - Over a one-year period, PACE increased school enrollment and attendance for the girls it served, compared with the control group. Girls in the program group were also more likely to be "on track" academically than those in the control group. - Girls in both the program and control groups appeared goal-oriented and hopeful about their futures and reported relatively low levels of risky behavior one year after study enrollment. Rates of formal involvement in the juvenile justice system during the 18 months after study enrollment were similar for the program and control groups. - The cost of PACE's holistic package of services is, on average, $10,400 more than the cost of the services received by control group members through academic and social services provided in the community. The additional cost is largely driven by PACE’s extensive social services; the cost of academic services is similar to those of Florida public schools. The findings on academic outcomes are promising. Further follow-up research would be necessary to see whether PACE affects longer-term academic and delinquency outcomes and to complete a full benefit-cost analysis. Details: New York: MDRC, 2019. 140p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 19, 2019 at: https://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/PACE_Final_Report_2019.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/PACE_Final_Report_2019.pdf Shelf Number: 154668 Keywords: At-Risk Youth Delinquency Prevention Female Delinquents Gender Specific Responses |