PROGRAM EVALUATION OF THERAPEUTIC SERVICES AT THE PRISON FOR WOMEN, VOLUMES I AND II

• NCJ Number: 144875
• Author(s): K Kendall
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 211 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Canada Correctional Service
• Sale Source: Canada Correctional Service
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

This two-volume report evaluates therapeutic services available at Canada's Prison for Women, based on interviews with female inmates, prison staff, and program providers and on participant observation and document analysis.

Abstract

Overall, respondents felt that therapeutic services enabled women to be themselves and in control of their own lives. Concepts of personal autonomy and connection with others were reflected in an expressed desire for positive relationships among and between inmates, prison staff, and program providers. Positive relationships were identified as ones honoring mutuality and were said to be achieved when people looked beyond such labels as prisoner or guard. Specifically, the evaluation found that the orientation process at the prison did not meet the needs of female inmates; that the inmate classification system was inadequate; and that case management officers were not sufficiently informed about therapeutic program content, availability, and scheduling. While female inmates reported high overall satisfaction with individual counselors, these counselors did not reflect the inmate population's cultural diversity. Most inmates said they preferred counseling sessions with a female, especially when working through abuse. Groups receiving the most inmate support emphasized active participation and empowerment, and 93 percent of inmates requested that more therapeutic groups be available. Inmates identified a need for more substance abuse programming and stated they were not well informed about program offerings. Prison staff indicated they were not familiar with the availability, content, and theory of both individual and group counseling but nearly all were interested in learning more. Finally, inmates felt they were inadequately prepared for release and recommended the establishment of a support group for ex-offenders living outside the prison to assist them in community reintegration. A companion volume contains program evaluation supporting documents.