NCJ Number
181453
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: September 1999 Pages: 22-27
Date Published
September 1999
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the relevance of gender-responsive program designs, interventions, and evaluation for women offenders.
Abstract
The profile of female offenders indicates that they are socially and economically marginalized and often victimized by family members and intimates. Theories that focus on female development and relationships that are mutual, caring, and empowering can be useful tools for correctional programs for women and girls; however, methods of survival and resistance to race, class, and gender oppression also must be articulated in theoretical and programmatic models. Evaluation research has shown that effective therapeutic approaches for women offenders are multidimensional and deal with specific women's issues, including chemical dependency, domestic violence, sexual abuse, pregnancy and parenting, relationships, and gender bias. After outlining what constitutes an effective gender-responsive treatment program, this article discusses the assessment of gender-responsivity in programming. A checklist of questions for determining whether a program is gender-responsive is provided. The concluding section of the article discusses the features of program evaluation. Among other recommendations, it advises that outcome measures used in evaluations should be tied to the program's mission, goals, and objectives. Short-term and long-term outcome measures for female-specific programs are listed. 16 footnotes