Groupwork With Women Offenders: A Source of Empowerment for Users, Workers and Agency (From Groupwork With Offenders, P 184-196, 1993, Allan Brown and Brian Caddick, eds. - See NCJ-158762)

• NCJ Number: 158778
• Author(s): L Thomas
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Whiting and Birch
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

The process of developing the Miskin Model for providing group sessions for female probationers in one area of Wales demonstrates the possibility of creativity and innovation in developing new policy and strategy within the probation service.

Abstract

The main goal of the effort that produced the Miskin Model was to develop a model of group intervention for female offenders that was effective and efficient and resulted in empowerment. From the outset, staff acknowledged that achieving economy was unlikely, because providing equal access and nondiscriminatory practice to offenders whose needs cannot be met within mainstream services is costly in both staff and material resources. The program's development illustrated the dynamic and changing relationships among workers, female offenders, and the agency. These encompassed four phases covering a 2-year period. The first two phases were to explore and analyze gaps in service provision, establish a commitment to eliminate the gaps, set objectives, agree on an action plan, and develop and revise the model. The third and fourth phases involve reviewing and documenting the model and transforming it into policy statements and strategies to reinforce and further develop work with female offenders. Figure