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This research emerged out of an idea which originated in an earlier MSc dissertation, in which I had explored the differences between male and female offenders (Pullar, 2000). Here I discovered that a substantial number of women had been found guilty of offences that were violent in nature. This finding was backed up by my own recent practice experience relating to women involved in the probation services. What I began to suspect was that women offenders, contrary to conventional assumptions operating within criminal justice social work services, were not an homogeneous group. On the contrary, I began to consider whether there were identifiable differences between women who had been convicted of offences involving violence and those who had been convicted of non-violent offences. This observation led me to turn to some of the more recent research on women offenders, some of which, (e.g. Loucks and Zamble, 2001), suggested that in practice, women offenders display significantly different offending patterns in terms of their pathways into offending, their offending behaviour and the factors that sustain that behaviour. It is also suggested that women w are convicted of violent offences display behaviour that is very similar to that of male offenders. The target group for my own research was all women who had appeared in court and had had a social enquiry report prepared about them and were living in Fife within the financial year April 2003 to March 2004. This time-scale allowed verification of the quantitative data collected, by comparison with figures submitted by Fife Council Criminal Justice Service to the Audit Commission for Scotland. A population of women offenders was considered in this year and 200 separate cases were included. In addition to the quantitative data collected, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 women, all of whom were subject to statutory supervision. Both parts of the data collection were completed by August 2004. In order that the quantitative data could be collected in a systematic fashion, the Level of Service Inventory (Revised), or L.S.I.-R., was used to collect information about the target group. Furthermore, two additional parameters were added to this inventory, both of which were factors that had been identified previously by researchers as being associated with offending behaviour in women. These were firstly, experiences of childhood abuse and neglect, and secondly, having a male partner who was involved in criminal activity. The differences between the two groups of women offenders were analysed for statistical significance, using the Excel worksheet package. The L.S.I.-R. was also used in helping to construct a framework for the collection of the qualitative data. The interview schedule for the semi-structured interviews with women probationers was devised to reflect the areas of criminogenic need identified as relevant both by the L.S.I.-R. and by researchers in the field of women offenders (e.g. Carlen, 1988). Once completed, the interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed, with the help of the NUD*IST qualitative data analysis computer package. The research concludes that marked differences were found between women offenders convicted of violent offences and those convicted of offences which did not involve violence. Strong evidence was gathered regarding differences in the ways that the women had become involved in offending and some of the elements that sustained that behaviour, notably substance abuse. There was also some indication that life-course experiences were particularly significant for the group of women who had been convicted of violent offences. The thesis concludes that, in view of the differences, these groups require different kinds of social work service provision.

A considerable amount of research focuses on the detrimental influence that relationships pose for women offenders while relatively little attention has been given to the potential positive impact of relationships in their lives. This study investigates how women offenders' positive relationships work as 'buffers' against their criminal involvement, as well as why some positive influences do not elicit long-term change in women. We examine various forms of relationships (both romantic and non-romantic) that female offenders develop and explore the mechanisms by which these relationships might influence their behavior. Life history interviews conducted with 60 incarcerated women revealed that women's family members, friends, significant others, and children provided support, social capital, motivation, and opportunities which can buffer women from criminal behavior, but that women's drug use, disadvantage, interest in, pride or shame, and desire to make positive changes limited the effectiveness of these relationships.

A considerable amount of research focuses on the detrimental influence that relationships pose for women offenders while relatively little attention has been given to the potential positive impact of relationships in their lives. This study investigates how women offenders' positive relationships work as 'buffers' against their criminal involvement, as well as why some positive influences do not elicit long-term change in women. We examine various forms of relationships (both romantic and non-romantic) that female offenders develop and explore the mechanisms by which these relationships might influence their behavior. Life history interviews conducted with 60 incarcerated women revealed that women's family members, friends, significant others, and children provided support, social capital, motivation, and opportunities which can buffer women from criminal behavior, but that women's drug use, disadvantage, interest in, pride or shame, and desire to make positive changes limited the effectiveness of these relationships.

This thesis uses an exploratory case study design to chronicle the shifts, recognition, and implementation of programs, tools and policies designed for high need federally sentenced women in Canada that were created after 1990, in accordance with or opposed to the gender specific principles outlined in the Creating Choices (1990) report. The body lens is used as an analytic tool to deconstruct eleven of the most pertinent documents regarding policy and strategy for high need women offenders that were implemented by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) personnel and the Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI) over the past twenty years. Coding of a wide range of documents reveals that despite appearing to be rhetorically progressive, CSC’s attempt at creating a women-centered mental health strategy uses contradictory disciplinary techniques that control and restrain the bodies of federally sentenced women in hopes of normalizing the behaviours of high need women. The policies imposed by CSC for high need women offenders fail to make any substantial changes in women’s prison reform and resulted in a different form of regulation and control. High need women offenders are imprisoned in their own bodies.

This thesis uses an exploratory case study design to chronicle the shifts, recognition, and implementation of programs, tools and policies designed for high need federally sentenced women in Canada that were created after 1990, in accordance with or opposed to the gender specific principles outlined in the Creating Choices (1990) report. The body lens is used as an analytic tool to deconstruct eleven of the most pertinent documents regarding policy and strategy for high need women offenders that were implemented by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) personnel and the Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI) over the past twenty years. Coding of a wide range of documents reveals that despite appearing to be rhetorically progressive, CSC’s attempt at creating a women-centered mental health strategy uses contradictory disciplinary techniques that control and restrain the bodies of federally sentenced women in hopes of normalizing the behaviours of high need women. The policies imposed by CSC for high need women offenders fail to make any substantial changes in women’s prison reform and resulted in a different form of regulation and control. High need women offenders are imprisoned in their own bodies.

This thesis uses an exploratory case study design to chronicle the shifts, recognition, and implementation of programs, tools and policies designed for high need federally sentenced women in Canada that were created after 1990, in accordance with or opposed to the gender specific principles outlined in the Creating Choices (1990) report. The body lens is used as an analytic tool to deconstruct eleven of the most pertinent documents regarding policy and strategy for high need women offenders that were implemented by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) personnel and the Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI) over the past twenty years. Coding of a wide range of documents reveals that despite appearing to be rhetorically progressive, CSC’s attempt at creating a women-centered mental health strategy uses contradictory disciplinary techniques that control and restrain the bodies of federally sentenced women in hopes of normalizing the behaviours of high need women. The policies imposed by CSC for high need women offenders fail to make any substantial changes in women’s prison reform and resulted in a different form of regulation and control. High need women offenders are imprisoned in their own bodies.

This thesis uses an exploratory case study design to chronicle the shifts, recognition, and implementation of programs, tools and policies designed for high need federally sentenced women in Canada that were created after 1990, in accordance with or opposed to the gender specific principles outlined in the Creating Choices (1990) report. The body lens is used as an analytic tool to deconstruct eleven of the most pertinent documents regarding policy and strategy for high need women offenders that were implemented by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) personnel and the Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI) over the past twenty years. Coding of a wide range of documents reveals that despite appearing to be rhetorically progressive, CSC’s attempt at creating a women-centered mental health strategy uses contradictory disciplinary techniques that control and restrain the bodies of federally sentenced women in hopes of normalizing the behaviours of high need women. The policies imposed by CSC for high need women offenders fail to make any substantial changes in women’s prison reform and resulted in a different form of regulation and control. High need women offenders are imprisoned in their own bodies.

The exponential increase in the annual number of women released from prison in the United States underscores the imperative need for holistic, fully integrated gender-responsive reentry services. The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand the unique contributions of paraprofessional staff charged with meeting the multi-layered, programmatic needs of women offenders with co-occurring disorders. A qualitative, evidence-based interview guide was used to analyze the utilization of gender-responsive services provided by 21 paraprofessionals throughout four Southern California Counties. The findings indicate that while paraprofessional staff members understand the concept and approach of gender-responsive oriented services, there remain significant programmatic barriers that not only impair the reduction of recidivism rates, but also undermine successful community reentry efforts. These findings support the inherent micro and macro-based approaches to social work that acknowledge a systems approach to improving outcomes for women offenders striving toward health and wellness.

No / Secure provision for women in both the Criminal Justice System and the Health Service has evolved in the last decade, in line with emerging gender-specific policy. Notable gains have been the approach to self-harm in prison and a reduction in the inappropriately high levels of secure hospital care. Although treatment pilots in UK settings are in progress, much practice remains poorly described and insufficiently evaluated. Recent strategic initiatives by both the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health, as well as the commissioning changes that have followed the Health and Social Care Act 2012, provide a basis for reconsideration and a further paradigm shift. Suggestions for a reinvigorated model of gender-sensitive provision are made, relying on principles of resilience and autonomy. / Secure provision for women in both the Criminal Justice System and the Health Service has evolved in the last decade, in line with emerging gender-specific policy. Notable gains have been the approach to self-harm in prison and a reduction in the inappropriately high levels of secure hospital care. Although treatment pilots in UK settings are in progress, much practice remains poorly described and insufficiently evaluated. Recent strategic initiatives by both the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health, as well as the commissioning changes that have followed the Health and Social Care Act 2012, provide a basis for reconsideration and a further paradigm shift. Suggestions for a reinvigorated model of gender-sensitive provision are made, relying on principles of resilience and autonomy.