NCJ Number
220657
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 23 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2007 Pages: 383-398
Date Published
November 2007
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article tested the risk principles on a sample of female offenders involved in community corrections.
Abstract
The findings suggest that the risk principle is applicable to women as higher risk female offenders who participated in residential treatment showed lower probability of recidivism than a risk-controlled comparison group, while lower-risk women increased in likelihood of rearrest after exposure to the same treatment; the risk principle is relevant to female offenders. The study compared female offenders who received intensive residential services with women paroled to the community with limited supervision and treatment options. On average, despite termination status, those women who were exposed to intensive treatment experienced lower rates of rearrest than those in the comparison group. Residential treatment appeared effective at decreasing the likelihood of committing a new offense for the female offenders sampled. In terms of recidivism, higher risk women who are exposed to intensive interventions experience significant benefits from treatment whereas low-risk women increase the likelihood of recidivism, particularly rearrest, when exposed to residential treatment. The implication is that higher risk female offenders should be the target population for intensive treatment and supervision programs, including placement in a residential correctional facility, and low-risk women should be diverted from intensive correctional interventions when possible. The sample consisted of 1,340 female offenders served by halfway houses or community-based correctional facilities across the State of Ohio. The study was limited by its 2 year followup period; a longer followup period might have yielded different results. Further limitations of the study are discussed in detail. Tables, notes, references