Search results

Abstract: This paper considers the position of female offenders in relation to the work of the probation service. Using both primary and secondary data sources it investigates disparities between females and males in the use of probation‐administered disposals, and suggests the social inquiry report to be a key factor in these. Possible reasons for differential treatment of females by the probation service, and other issues relating to this are also discussed.

Abstract: This article provides a critical examination of the applicability of need and risk assessments to female offenders. Recent research has suggested that 'gender‐informed' measures are likely to be a more valid tool than existing methods when classifying offender need and risk. The author suggests that a serious evaluation of how we assess the need and risk of women incarcerated in England and Wales is needed, with focus on the criminogenic needs of women, the context of their lives, and their pathways into crime. While an entirely new method of assessment focused on women may be required, it seems equally likely that a more simple 'reweighting' of existing methods such as the Offender Assessment System (OASys) may be sufficient – focused on both gender‐mutual and female‐specific needs.

An overview of delinquent girls : how theory and practice have failed and the need for innovative changes / Joanne Belknap and Kristi Holsinger -- The nature of female offending : patterns and explanation / Jennifer Schwartz and Darrell Steffensmeier -- Female offenders : a systems perspective / Ruth T. Zaplin -- Social treatment : a multiphased event / Frank B. W. Hawkinshire -- The relational theory of women's psychological development : implications for the criminal justice system / Stephanie S. Covington -- Power-belief theory : female criminality and the dynamics of oppression / Joyce Dougherty -- Explanatory diversity among female delinquents : examining taxonomic heterogeneity / Tim Brennan -- The treatment of female offenders : individual psychotherapy in systems-theory perspective / Bernard Weitzman -- Pre-adjudicated and adjudicated girls' reports on their lives before and during detention and incarceration / Joanne Belknap and Bonnie Cady -- Institutional assessment and classification of female offenders : from robust beauty to person-centered assessment / Tim Brennan -- Mental health issues, treatment, and the female offender / Susan Baugh, Susan Bull, and Kathy Cohen -- Female offenders and childhood maltreatment : understanding the connections / Joyce Dougherty -- Surviving violence : women's strength through connection / Carolyn Swift -- Needs assessment and treatment goal planning / Lorry Bradley -- Meditation, emotions, and female offenders / Elaine J. Yuen -- Preparing federal female offenders for reentry : shifting the paradigm to a skills-based model / John M. Vanyur, Nicole English, and Melinda Clark -- Programs that work : mothers / Ruth T. Zaplin and Joyce Dougherty -- Self-taught empowerment and pride : a multimodal/dual empowerment approach to confronting the problems of African American female offenders / Zelma Weston Henriques and Dolores Jones-Brown -- College mentoring program for incarcerated girls / Kristi Holsinger -- Evaluation of programs for female offenders / Kathleen Kendall -- Applying strategic management techniques to female offender programs and organizations / Rob Cimperman -- The "good hands" society : the application of insurance principles to uncivil actors and societal systems / David Zlowe -- Looking toward the future : the female offender as customer / Ruth T. Zaplin

"Taking into account the special needs of girls and women within a system designed by men for male offenders, Working with Female Offenders offers counselors, correctional officers, lawyers, probation officers - in short, anyone who works in some capacity with female offenders - an evidence-based, gentler approach for working effectively and successfully with girls and women in trouble with the law." "Working with Female Offenders provides coverage devoted to the nature of female crime and to the institutional settings in which much of the female-specific programming is designed to take place. This timely volume equips professionals with proven counseling strategies tailored to fit this population."--Jacket

"Taking into account the special needs of girls and women within a system designed by men for male offenders, Working with Female Offenders offers counselors, correctional officers, lawyers, probation officers - in short, anyone who works in some capacity with female offenders - an evidence-based, gentler approach for working effectively and successfully with girls and women in trouble with the law." "Working with Female Offenders provides coverage devoted to the nature of female crime and to the institutional settings in which much of the female-specific programming is designed to take place. This timely volume equips professionals with proven counseling strategies tailored to fit this population."--Jacket.

Compared to male offenders, female offenders have received little empirical attention. This is particularly true in the area of offender risk assessment. Numerous objective risk scales have been developed and used for males, but very few for women. Two studies were conducted to investigate the predictors of female recidivism. The first study attempted to validate a risk scale developed on a male offender population and found poor generalizability. The second study explored additional possible predictors including victimization experiences. Once again, little progress was made. The implications for future research on female offender risk prediction and prison programming are discussed.