Drug Treatment for Women Offenders: Research Agenda

Based on a national survey of community-based and custodial programs and case studies, researchers identified several areas that should be explored in order to improve treatment for women offenders. These areas included estimates of treatment need, expansion of treatment availability, pathways to treatment, centralized needs assessment and referral, individualized services, empowerment, vocational training and jobs, cultural and ethnic sensitivity and relevance, family planning and contraception, and impact of treatment. Policy makers at the local, State, and Federal levels should work to promote interagency linkages and treatment systemization in community-based treatment, promote Statewide systems of drug treatment for women offenders that include custodial programs and transition to continuity of care in the community, and establish cooperation and coordination among relevant Federal agencies concerned with treatment for women offenders. 1 note and 15 references