NCJ Number
177571
Date Published
1998
Length
98 pages
Annotation
This is an overview and preliminary evaluation of the Peer Support Team (PST) program for women offenders.
Abstract
The PST program for Federal female offenders emphasizes treatment that is holistic, woman-centered, culturally sensitive, and that supports the development of autonomy and self-esteem. Overall, the PST was rated very positively by staff and offenders in terms of both process and outcome and met key principles in the women's mental health continuum of care. However, it is worthy of note that membership on the team may impede some women in receiving support from their peers. Some team members viewed themselves as providing support to others without acknowledging that they, too, might occasionally need support. In addition, the PST may introduce a power imbalance among offenders, creating a hierarchy, in which the "strong" offenders take care of the "needy" ones. There appeared to be no significant negative effects of the PST program and no evidence of "burnout" among PST members. Notes, tables, figure, references, appendixes