NCJ Number
119123
Date Published
1988
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Effective correctional programming for female offenders in Australia in the 1990's will require criminal justice officials and policymakers to develop a comprehensive new criminal justice strategy for female offenders and prisoners that integrates both community-based and prison-based programs, that rests on sound philosophical and legislative bases, and that is supported by the necessary administrative structures.
Abstract
This approach will foster a corrections system that provides credible alternatives to imprisonment as well as effective and humane punishment for prisoners while minimizing the problems that have characterized imprisonment in the past. The basic changes needed are to stop seeing women as a trivial group within the corrections system and to avoid simply making programs for female offenders simply the equivalent of those provided for men. The goals should be to limit the numbers in prison, provide credible alternatives to prison, and provide innovative inmate programs that meet the special needs of female prisoners. Thus, old prisons should be closed as new ones are built. In addition, legislative and administrative structures should be established to support well-planned and administered community-based programs. Finally, inmate programs should reflect the principles similar to those used at Tarrengower Prison in Victoria. This innovative open prison for 24 women is designed to promote independent living skills, uses unit management, provides for regular and close contact with children, and maintains extensive links with the community.