Abstract
Women are the fastest growing segment of the criminal justice population, yet the majority of research on criminal justice
populations has been focused on men. Programming and interventions that reduce women’s involvement in the criminal justice
system and ameliorate the negative consequences associated with criminal justice involvement are urgently needed. The overall
aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive framework for developing evidence-based, gender-specific programming and interventions
to reduce criminal justice involvement and its associated consequences among women in the criminal justice system. The first
section of the paper offers a conceptually guided review of the three primary factors that facilitate and complicate women’s
involvement in the criminal justice system: victimization; mental disorders; and substance use. In the second section of the
paper, findings from focus groups conducted with women on probation or parole identify strategies to engage this population
in psychosocial interventions. The third and final section of the paper provides comprehensive recommendations for designing
programming and interventions for women in the criminal justice system.
populations has been focused on men. Programming and interventions that reduce women’s involvement in the criminal justice
system and ameliorate the negative consequences associated with criminal justice involvement are urgently needed. The overall
aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive framework for developing evidence-based, gender-specific programming and interventions
to reduce criminal justice involvement and its associated consequences among women in the criminal justice system. The first
section of the paper offers a conceptually guided review of the three primary factors that facilitate and complicate women’s
involvement in the criminal justice system: victimization; mental disorders; and substance use. In the second section of the
paper, findings from focus groups conducted with women on probation or parole identify strategies to engage this population
in psychosocial interventions. The third and final section of the paper provides comprehensive recommendations for designing
programming and interventions for women in the criminal justice system.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-24
- DOI 10.1007/s12103-012-9158-2
- Authors
- Martin T. Hall, Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, 209 Oppenheimer Hall, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
- Seana Golder, Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, 207 Patterson Hall, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
- Cynthia L. Conley, Department of Social Work, Ball State University, North Quad Building, NQ 273, Muncie, IN 47306, USA
- Susan Sawning, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
- Journal American Journal of Criminal Justice
- Online ISSN 1936-1351
- Print ISSN 1066-2316