The Cycle of Female Prisoner (Re)Integration: Pathways, criminal justice and imprisonment

<p>With increasing rates of female imprisonment, and female prisoner re-imprisonment rates of 33% for first time prisoners and 48% for recidivist prisoners within four years, women’s experiences of (re)integration are in need of examination. Issues of abuse, addiction, economic, social and political deprivation and poor education are not only seen to underpin women’s pathways into crime, but also the treatment of female offenders within a system that has redefined their welfare needs as risks. Using a feminist, qualitative methodology that provides often unheard women with a voice, semi-structured interviews were conducted with female ex-prisoners and those who work with women once released from prison. Interviews examined women’s experiences of release and the areas that contribute to successful or unsuccessful (re)integration. Findings reveal that support networks, release conditions, employment, accommodation and treatment services are key factors that either help or hinder women’s (re)integration. Consistent with literature on women’s (re)integration, interviews further revealed that female offender pathways are not addressed prior to, during, or after release from prison. To address such problems, this thesis argues that collaborative, holistic, gender-specific programmes, that are tailored to meet women’s daily needs and experiences, are required both within the community and prisons.</p>

The Cycle of Female Prisoner (Re)Integration: Pathways, criminal justice and imprisonment

<p>With increasing rates of female imprisonment, and female prisoner re-imprisonment rates of 33% for first time prisoners and 48% for recidivist prisoners within four years, women’s experiences of (re)integration are in need of examination. Issues of abuse, addiction, economic, social and political deprivation and poor education are not only seen to underpin women’s pathways into crime, but also the treatment of female offenders within a system that has redefined their welfare needs as risks. Using a feminist, qualitative methodology that provides often unheard women with a voice, semi-structured interviews were conducted with female ex-prisoners and those who work with women once released from prison. Interviews examined women’s experiences of release and the areas that contribute to successful or unsuccessful (re)integration. Findings reveal that support networks, release conditions, employment, accommodation and treatment services are key factors that either help or hinder women’s (re)integration. Consistent with literature on women’s (re)integration, interviews further revealed that female offender pathways are not addressed prior to, during, or after release from prison. To address such problems, this thesis argues that collaborative, holistic, gender-specific programmes, that are tailored to meet women’s daily needs and experiences, are required both within the community and prisons.</p>

Locked in the Home: A Critique of House Arrest as an Alternative to Imprisonment for Women Sentenced for Drug-Related Crimes

This article addresses the unintended consequences of using house arrest for female offenders as an alternative to prison for drug-related crimes. We propose that in patriarchal societies, locking women at home could imply moving them to another control device that may be as harmful as prison. Thereby, house arrest creates an unintended effect in which domestication in traditional gender roles ends up being the primary target of female offender punishment.

Listening to women: relational approaches to female offender management

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore women’s experiences of criminal justice systems to inform the development of guidance on working with women. Design/methodology/approach A two-part, independent samples and qualitative study using semi-structured interviews incorporating both interpretive phenomenological analysis and thematic analysis was conducted. In Study 1, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six women on probation in the community and data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Interviews in Study 2 were conducted with seven women in custody with data analysed using inductive-deductive thematic analysis. The applicability and expansion of Study 1 themes was then explored. Findings Seven emergent themes indicated relational approaches to offender management may improve experiences of judicial systems for female offenders and for their probation officers. This approach may help prevent common systemic issues from perpetuating negative interactions between these groups. Specific suggestions for developing relational security and consistency of care within these relationships are provided. Practical implications Taking a relational approach to female offender management may help remedy some of the systemic difficulties faced by female offenders and their probation officers. Originality/value By focussing on the experiences of women screened in to the offender personality disorder pathway this study provides insight as to how this service can assist in the development of relational security between probation staff and their clients.

Prevention of Female Offender Recidivism Through Vocational Training and Socially Useful Work in the Correctional Institutions of Russia, Germany and Switzerland

Recidivism is a rather complicated social and criminal law phenomenon, a special type of crime that threatens the national security of the country. It is characterized by a considerable level of public danger. The society is seriously worried by the recidivism of former inmates. In this connection, the prevention of repeat offences is one of the key tasks of the society and the law enforcement bodies. Public attention is drawn to the prevention of recidivism among, primarily, the most vulnerable groups, including women. In the last decade we have been witnessing a worrying steady trend for recidivism among former female inmates. On the whole, crimes of women act as an indicator of the moral condition of the society, they influence underage crime and have a negative impact on families. This situation requires the development and implementation of a complex of measures and activities to prevent recidivism among female inmates. The authors examine the possibility of reducing the level of such crimes by improving the effectiveness of the work of correctional institutions in the area of vocational training and involvement of female inmates in work; they highlight the issues connected with enrolling female inmates in vocational training programs and socially useful work; they also analyze the specific features of work adaptation of this category of convicts in penitentiary institutions of other countries, specifically, in Switzerland and Germany. It should be noted that foreign penitentiary systems put an emphasis on professional development as a method of preventing repeat offences. The main goal of professional training of inmates is to help them prepare for an independent life as law-abiding citizens after release. Instilling in inmates a habit of viewing work as a basis of their lives is an important factor of their post-penitentiary adaptation. In this connection, foreign penitentiary systems develop and implement programs that prepare inmates for life after the release, which include various variants of vocational training, professional development and work placement. The authors suggest introducing some amendments to the current Russian penitentiary legislation and the practice of its enforcement in the sphere of involving female convicts in professional training and work.

Promises, promises: Can the Female Offender Strategy deliver?

Following a number of postponements, the long awaited and much needed female offender strategy for England and Wales was finally published in June 2018. The strategy reflects the strong agreement across the sector of the need for a ‘distinct’ or ‘gender-specific’ approach to respond to the vulnerabilities of women in the Criminal Justice System (CJS). Despite this, the strategy lacks clarity and offers little assurance that the direction taken will result in actual change and positive reform. It is vital that the government’s implementation of the female offender strategy provides and demonstrates a genuine commitment to appropriate provision for females in the CJS through ring-fenced permanent funding as well as top-down accountability.