The Effectiveness of Support and Rehabilitation Services for Women Offenders

Abstract

There is a large body of research which suggests that support, rehabilitation and supervision programs can help offenders to reduce recidivism. The effectiveness of services is, however, dependent on the extent to which the workers who deliver them comply with "what works" principles and practices. Most of this research has been conducted with men and this study examines the extent to which these principles and practices apply to women. The study focuses on services offered to a group of women in prison in Victoria and following their release to the community. It examines the relationship between the women"s views about the services, recidivism and characteristics of services. The results are generally consistent with earlier research.They favour services which are delivered by workers who are reliable, holistic, collaborative, understand the women"s perspective and focus on strengths. They do not support services which challenge the women, focus on their offences or things they do badly.

Hoping Against Hope: The Prison-to-Community Transition Experience of Men With Co-Occurring Severe Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder

“…O'Brien's findings have been echoed in later studies and have potential relevance to people with a mental illness leaving prison (Davis et al, 2013;Graffam et al, 2005;McHugh, 2013;Shinkfield & Graffam, 2009;Trotter, McIvor, & Sheehan, 2012).…”

“…Much of the innovative work in understanding prison-to-community transition support has come from studies involving women offenders (Baldry, 2010;McHugh, 2013;O'Brien, 2001;O'Brien & Young, 2006;Reisig, Holtfreter, & Morash, 2002;Sheehan et al, 2010;Trotter et al, 2012). This research might also have relevance to men with a mental illness, or indeed to the broader male offender population.…”

“…Providing more formal support to people during transition, particularly those without family networks, appears to be important; however, the quality and nature of that support is crucial (Trotter et al, 2012). Much of the innovative work in understanding prison-to-community transition support has come from studies involving women offenders (Baldry, 2010;McHugh, 2013;O'Brien, 2001;O'Brien & Young, 2006;Reisig, Holtfreter, & Morash, 2002;Sheehan et al, 2010;Trotter et al, 2012).…”

“…While the individual risk-focused approach appears to have merit in terms of impacting on recidivism in the general offender population, the preoccupation with risk assessment "technology" has been widely criticised (Coffey, 2012;Fenton, 2013;Hannah-Moffat, 2005;Hudson, 2001;Ward et al, 2012) particularly in relation to women (Sheehan et al, 2010;Trotter et al, 2012) and in relation to people with a mental illness (Blackburn, 2004;Farrow et al, 2007). Some of the concepts underpinning the criticism arise from the work of Beck (1992) and his theory of "the risk society".…”

“…This research might also have relevance to men with a mental illness, or indeed to the broader male offender population. For example, the factor most strongly related to reduced offending for women leaving prison in an Australian study was if there was a positive client-worker relationship (Trotter et al, 2012). The worker needed to understand the women's perspectives, collaborate with them and have an optimistic view that the women could change.…”