The Assessment and Treatment of Women Offenders

There is a large body of research that provides guidance for those working with offenders on how they should be treated once they are in the correctional system. The problem is that most, if not all this research has been conducted on all male populations and it is assumed that women offenders are the same. However, women have different needs and support systems than men in some areas of their lives and it is unclear whether all research based on men can be generalized in this way. The book provides a review of the research literature to guide evidence-based practice in the assessment and treatment of adult female offenders. An historical overview of women s crime and imprisonment will be followed by a global review of various theories of female criminality. The remainder of the book reviews the psychology of criminal conduct, with a specific focus on three psychological principles of effective intervention: risk, need and responsivity. Respectively, these principles set the who , what and how for correctional intervention.

There is a large body of research that provides guidance for thoseworking with offenders on how they should be treated once they arein the correctional system. The problem is that most, if not allthis research has been conducted on all male populations and it isassumed that women offenders are the same. However, women havedifferent needs and support systems than men in some areas of theirlives and it is unclear whether all research based on men can begeneralized in this way.The book provides a review of the research literature to guideevidence-based practice in the assessment and treatment of adultfemale offenders. An historical overview of women's crime andimprisonment will be followed by a global review of varioustheories of female criminality. The remainder of the bookreviews the psychology of criminal conduct, with a specific focuson three psychological principles of effective intervention: riskneed and responsivity. Respectively, these principles set the"who", "what" and "how" forcorrectional intervention.

About the Authors ixSeries Editors' Preface xiPreface xvAcknowledgements xix1 The Extent and Nature of Female Offending and Incarceration Patterns 12 Theories of Female Offending 153 Assessment for Classification of Women Offenders 414 Assessing Women's Risk 535 Assessing Women's Needs 836 Responsivity, Treatment and Women Offenders 1157 Conclusion 137References 149Index 171