NCJ Number
67817
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE NEEDS OF WOMEN OFFENDERS AND PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO MEET THOSE NEEDS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
MOST FEMALE OFFENDERS ARE SELF-SUPPORTING, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUPPORT OF AT LEAST ONE CHILD, AND LACKING IN THE EMPLOYMENT SKILLS NECESSARY FOR AN ADEQUATE INCOME. CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS ARE JUST NOW BEING DEVELOPED WHICH TAKE THESE NEEDS INTO ACCOUNT. THE KINDS OF PROGRAMS MOST NEEDED ARE VOCATIONAL, PARENTING, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN NEED TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE OPTIONS THAN THE TRADITIONAL LOW PAYING JOBS HELD BY WOMEN. FURTHER, THE JOBS FOR WHICH TRAINING IS PROVIDED SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THE LABOR MARKET. IN ADDITION TO TEACHING JOB SKILLS, PROGRAMS SHOULD TEACH HOW TO SECURE A JOB AND DEVELOP GOOD JOB-RELATED HABITS. A PARENTING PROGRAM IS THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF REHABILITATION TO DEVELOP FOR WOMEN, BECAUSE A MODEL PARENTING PROGRAM SHOULD INCLUDE 'LIVING IN' OR EXTENSIVE VISITATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHILDREN. SUCH PRACTICES ARE APPARENTLY UNACCEPTABLE TO MOST PRISON ADMINISTRATORS. SOME EXCEPTIONS EXIST, HOWEVER, NOTABLY IN THE POLICIES OF THE MINNESOTA PRISON FOR WOMMEN AND THE WASHINGTON STATE PURDY TREATMENT CENTER FOR WOMEN. THE EXPERIENCES OF INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THESE IN PARENTING PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN MAY INFLUENCE OTHER PRISONS TO ADOPT SIMILAR PROGRAMS. INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN OFFENDERS ARE OFTEN IGNORED, ALTHOUGH THEY COST RELATIVELY LITTLE TO OPERATE, AND THEY PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND DEVELOP HABITS ESSENTIAL TO DAILY INDEPENDENT LIVING. THE TENUOUS STANDING OF MOST PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN OFFENDERS NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED THROUGH PLANNING AND POLICY THAT GIVES PRIORITY AND STABLE FUNDING TO SUCH PROGRAMS.