Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Barbara E. Bloom, Ph.D.
W.A.G.E.S. Women and Girls Excelling Strategies
January 24, 2014
Brought to you by the Center for Advocacy and Leadership TrainingIn Collaboration with 211 and the County of San Bernardino Department of
Public Health
Gender-Responsive StrategiesGender-Responsive Strategies
OverviewOverview
The goals of this training are to provide the following:Profile of justice-involved women;Overview of gender-responsive principles and strategies;Information and research on gender-responsive programs and services; andImplications and examples for policy and practice
Women and Girls in the CJ SystemWomen and Girls in the CJ System
Compared with men, women –
Have more severe histories of sexual/physical abuse
Have a higher prevalence of mental and physical health
problems, including trauma related to abuse
Have patterns of drug abuse that are more socially embedded
– revolving around their interpersonal relationships
Are typically primary caregivers for minor children
Have limited education and employment histories
Respond differently to treatment and correctional supervision
Justice-Involved WomenJustice-Involved Women
Over 1 million women are under criminal justice supervision in the U.S.
The majority are supervised in the community on probation or parole.
Imprisoned Women – U.S.Imprisoned Women – U.S. There were over 111,000 women incarcerated in U.S.
state and federal prisons in 2011 (6.7% of the overall prison population).
The number of women in prison increased at nearly 1.5 times the rate of men (637% versus 419%) from 1980 to 2011.
Women of color made up about 43% of state and federal prison populations.
African American women were imprisoned at 2.5 times the rate of white women and Latinas were imprisoned at 1.4 times the rate of white women.
Source: BJS, Prisoners in 2011, December 2012
Women in U.S. JailsWomen in U.S. Jails
In 2011, there were 93,300 women in local jails (12.7% of the overall jail population), up from 92,368 (12.3%) in 2010.
Approximately 60% of the jail population was unconvicted and awaiting court action.
The greatest increase in the female jail population was in California.
Source: BJS, Jail Inmates at Midyear 2012
Women on Probation & ParoleWomen on Probation & Parole
In 2011, there were over 712,000 women on probation and over 103,000 on parole in the U.S.
This represents approximately 81% of the women under criminal justice supervision.
San Bernardino CountySan Bernardino CountyAverage Daily Jail Population-8/11/13 = 5928Male 87.6%Female 12.4%
White 29.8%Black 20.5%Hispanic 46.5%Other 2. 5%
Non-sentenced = 62%Sentenced = 37% Source: San Bernardino Co. Sheriff, Aug. 15, 2013
A
Gender Differential in Offense Gender Differential in Offense PatternsPatterns
Female crime rates usually much lower than male rates
Women’s crimes are predominantly:
• Petty theft• Low-level drug use & sales• Minor fraud• Prostitution
The gender gap is greatest for serious crime & least for less serious types of crime
In 2011, women were more likely to be in state prison for drug and property offenses (63%) versus violent offenses (37%) while men were more likely to be in prison for violent offenses (54%) versus drug and property offenses (46%).
Source: BJS Prisoners in 2011 (2012)
Imprisoned Women - CAImprisoned Women - CA
In 2011, there were 9,038 women in California state prisons, down from 9,763 in 2010. The number dropped to 5,919 on June 30, 2013.
Post-realignment, new prison admissions of women declined by 60%.
Sources: CDCR, May 2013; CJCJ, March 2013
Seven Major Counties Reduced Seven Major Counties Reduced Commitments to State Prison by 50%Commitments to State Prison by 50%
Santa BarbaraSanta ClaraKingsTulareSan MateoVenturaSan Bernardino
Gender MattersGender Matters
Based upon the significant growth in women’s and girls’ involvement in the criminal justice system, it is important for policy makers and practitioners to acknowledge the appropriate role of gender in the criminal justice system.
Gender matters significantly in shaping patterns of offending as well as the criminal justice system’s response to criminal offending.
Gender is also important in examining the differential effects of current policies and practices.
Current sentencing laws are based on male characteristics and male crime and fail to take into account the reality of women’s lives, characteristics, responsibilities, and roles in crime.
What Does Gender What Does Gender Responsive Mean?Responsive Mean?
Gender responsive means creating an environment through site selection, staff selection, program development, content and material that reflects an understanding of the realities of women’s and girls’ lives and addresses their challenges and strengths.
(Covington & Bloom, 2002)
Differences with a Distinction: Differences with a Distinction: Women and Correctional Women and Correctional
PracticePractice
Correctional institutions are managed based on policies and procedures developed for the management of male prisoners.
Gendered differences in women’s pathways to imprisonment, offense patterns, behavior while incarcerated and their needs before, during, and after incarceration must be considered in planning appropriate correctional policies and programs.
Criminal Justice PracticesCriminal Justice Practices
There is a need to develop gender-responsive programming for women and girls that is based on their life circumstances and pathways to crime.
Criminal justice practices that impact women such as bail, sentencing, classification, management strategies, and transition to the community have gendered implications.
Making the Case for Appropriate Policy & Practice for for Appropriate Policy & Practice for Criminal Justice Involved Women Criminal Justice Involved Women
Gender responsiveness is key to meeting the goals of the criminal justice system by:
Acknowledging differences between men & women
Targeting pathways to offending
Developing policy & practice
Five Key Findings . . .Five Key Findings . . .
1. An effective system for females is structured differently than for males
2. Gender-responsive policy & practice targets women’s pathways to criminality by providing effective interventions that address four central issues: substance abuse, trauma, mental health, & economic marginality
3. Correctional sanctions & interventions consider the lesser degree of harm created by the typical offense patterns of women
4. Gender-responsive policy & practice considers women’s relationships (especially family) & their roles in the community when delivering both sanctions & interventions
5. Community services are essential to a gender-responsive CJ system
© S. Covington, 2012
Mental Illness
SubstanceAbuse
HomelessnessTrauma
HIV/AIDS
Other Health Problems
Source: Vivian Brown, Ph.D.
Family BackgroundFamily Background
Likely to come from a single-parent home
Almost 17% lived in foster care or in a group home
More likely than men to have at least one family member that has been incarcerated
Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse Approximately 80% of women in state prisons
have substance abuse problems
About half had been using alcohol, drugs, or both at the time of their offense
Nearly 1 in 3 women in state prisons report committing the offense to support a drug habit
Women in state prisons report higher drug usage than their male counterparts
Violence Against Women Violence Against Women
• Women in the CJ system have extensive histories of physical & sexual abuse and are 3 times more likely than men to have a history of abuse
• One-third of women in state prison & one-quarter of those in jails report being raped at some time in their lives
• Women’s substance abuse is highly correlated with physical & sexual abuse
Health IssuesHealth Issues
• Males & females experience disease differently (cardiovascular disease, cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS)
• Women prisoners have backgrounds of inadequate health care & risky behaviors
• Women prisoners are more likely than men to test positive for HIV
• Pregnancy & reproductive needs
Mental HealthMental Health Women in the criminal justice system have a
higher incidence of mental disorders than women in general
Women in the criminal justice system have histories of abuse associated with psychological trauma
Approximately 75% with serious mental illness also have co-occurring substance abuse disorders
Women with mental illness & co-occurring disorders experience difficulties in prisons and jails
Substance Abuse, Mental Substance Abuse, Mental Health and TraumaHealth and Trauma
• The interrelationship of substance abuse, mental health & trauma is different in the lives of women
• 82% of women in jail had a lifetime substance use disorder
• 53% had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in their lifetime
• 43% had a serious mental illness, such as depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia
• Source: Lynch, S., DeHart, D., Belknap, J. & Green, B. (2012). Pathways Project
© S. Covington, Ph.D., 2012
Trauma History Among Criminal Trauma History Among Criminal Justice-involved WomenJustice-involved Women
Women in the criminal justice system have much higher rates of childhood and adult trauma exposure than women in the general population
Trauma history is associated with alcohol and drug dependence, high-risk behaviors, sex work, and physical and mental health disorders among women in criminal justice settings
ChildrenChildren• Approximately 70% of
women under correctional supervision have at least 1 child under 18
• Two-thirds of incarcerated women have children under 18
• An estimated 1.3 million minor children have a mother under correctional supervision
• More than a quarter of a million children have mothers in jail or prison
Education & EEducation & Employmentmployment
An estimated 55% of women in jail, 56% in state prisons & 73% in federal prisons have a high school degree
Approximately 40% of women in state prisons were employed at the time of arrest compared to 60% of males
37% of women compared to 28% of men had incomes of less than $600 per month prior to arrest
Reentry ChallengesReentry Challenges
Reunification with ChildrenEmploymentHousingMedical and Mental Health ServicesChildcareSupport Systems
Legal Barriers Facing Women Legal Barriers Facing Women Returning to Their CommunitiesReturning to Their Communities
Personal Responsibility & Work Opportunity Act of 1996
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Higher Education Act of 1998Public Housing - Section 8Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997Discrimination
Principle 1Principle 1
Acknowledge that gender makes a
difference
Principle 2Principle 2
Create an environment based on safety,
respect, & dignity
Principle 3Principle 3
Develop policies, practices & programs that are relational &
promote healthy connections to children, family, significant others, & the community
Principle 4Principle 4
Address substance abuse, trauma, & mental health issues through comprehensive, integrated,
culturally relevant services & appropriate supervision
Principle 5Principle 5
Provide women with opportunities to improve their
socioeconomic conditions
Principle 6Principle 6
Establish a system of community supervision &
reentry with comprehensive, collaborative services
Effects of Gender on Effects of Gender on Current CJ PracticeCurrent CJ Practice
Classification & assessment procedures
Women’s services & programs
Staffing & training
Risk/Needs Assessment Risk/Needs Assessment
Influenced by two theoretical perspectives:
1. The Canadian Model – gender-neutral (Andrews, Bonta, Gendreau, Hoge)
2. Feminist/Gender Responsive Model (Bloom,
Owen, Covington, Chesney-Lind)
Canadian ModelCanadian Model“The Big Four”“The Big Four”
Criminal historyCriminal associatesCriminal personality Criminal thinking
Stand-Alone Women’s Risk/Needs Stand-Alone Women’s Risk/Needs AssessmentAssessment
Criminal history Criminal thinking (sample variations) Antisocial associates Vocational/educational Financial problems Low family support Housing problems Substance abuse
Mental health history Depression/anxiety (symptoms) Psychosis/suicidal (symptoms) Victimization/trauma Relationship dysfunction Parental stress Housing safety
And strengths (self-efficacy, family support, parental involvement, and educational assets)
(National Resource Center on Justice Involved Women)
The Foundation for The Foundation for Women’s ServicesWomen’s Services
Safety • Community • Institutional
Rehabilitation• Programming• Treatment • Services
Approaches for Developing Approaches for Developing Gender-Responsive Gender-Responsive
Programs and ServicesPrograms and ServicesStructure
• Contemporary theoretical perspectives on women’s (and girls) particular pathways into the criminal justice system (e.g., relational theory, trauma theory) fit the psychological and social needs of women and reflect the realities of their lives.
• Treatment and services are based on women’s (and girls) competencies and strengths and promote self-reliance.
Structure (cont.)
• Women-only groups are used, especially for primary treatment (e.g., trauma, substance abuse)
• Staff members reflect the client population in terms of gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, language (bilingual), and ex-offender and recovery status.
• Female role models and mentors are provided who reflect the racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds of the clients.
Approaches for Developing Approaches for Developing Gender-Responsive Gender-Responsive
Programs and ServicesPrograms and ServicesContent and Context/Environment• To fully address the needs of women,
programs use a variety of interventions with behavioral, cognitive, affective/dynamic, and systems perspectives.
• Services/treatment address women’s practical needs, such as housing, transportation, childcare, and vocational training and job placement.
Content/Context/Environment
• Participants receive opportunities to develop skills in a range of educational and vocational (including nontraditional) areas.
• Emphasis is placed on parenting education, child development, and relationship/reunification with children.
• The environment is child friendly, with age-appropriate activities designed for children.
Services and Programs for Women Services and Programs for Women Should Acknowledge Gender Issues Should Acknowledge Gender Issues
• Substance abuse
• Physical, sexual, and psychological abuse
• Health and mental health
• Education & vocational training
• Life skills
Staffing and TrainingStaffing and Training
• Recruit staff who have both the interest and knowledge, ability and skill to work with women under criminal justice supervision
• Provide training in gender-responsive and trauma-informed practice
• Cross-train staff in substance abuse and mental health treatment
The Context of Women’s Lives:The Context of Women’s Lives:A Multidisciplinary Review ofA Multidisciplinary Review of
Research & TheoryResearch & Theory
Theoretical PerspectivesTheoretical Perspectives
• Pathways Perspective
• Relational Theory & Female Development
• Trauma Theory
• Addiction Theory
Pathways PerspectivePathways Perspective
• Women’s crimes embedded in the conditions of their lives
• Examines the specific life course events that place women at risk for offending
• Triple jeopardy: The impact of race, class & gender (Bloom)
• Multiple marginality: From families, school, work (Owen)
• Trauma & addiction (Covington)
The Relational Context is The Relational Context is Critical in Understanding:Critical in Understanding:
• Reasons why females commit crimes
• Behavior under supervision
• Motivation for change
• Reintegration into the community
• Relationships with children & significant others
Trauma TheoryTrauma Theory
• Trauma is the injury done by violence & abuse
• Trauma occurs on multiple levels
• Trauma recovery (Herman)
• Trauma-informed services
Trauma-informed ServicesTrauma-informed Services
• Take the trauma into account.
• Avoid triggering trauma reactions and/or traumatizing the individual.
• Adjust the behavior of counselors, other staff and the organization to support the individual’s coping capacity.
• Allow survivors to manage their trauma symptoms successfully so that they are able to
access, retain and benefit from the services.
(Harris & Fallot)
A Culture Shift: The Core A Culture Shift: The Core Values ofValues of Trauma-Informed Trauma-Informed
CareCare•Safety: Ensuring physical and emotional
safety•Trustworthiness: Maximizing trustworthiness,
making tasks clear, and maintaining appropriate boundaries
•Choice: Prioritizing woman’s choice and control
•Collaboration: Maximizing collaboration and sharing of power with woman
•Empowerment: Prioritizing empowerment and skill-building
Theory of AddictionTheory of Addiction
• Holistic health model
• Relational aspects of addiction
• Incorporation of trauma & relational theories
Emerging Research and Best Emerging Research and Best Practices Practices
• Use evidence-based and gender-responsive research to inform the development of tools and interventions
• Target women’s specific risk factors
• Create environments that are safe, supportive, and respectful
• Assure that interventions are trauma-informed
Emerging Research and Best Emerging Research and Best Practices Practices
• Acknowledge how relationships affect women’s lives
• Develop coordinated case management that is strength-based, trauma-informed, relational, and culturally competent
• Build partnerships with a range of community organizations (public and private) to establish gender and culturally responsive multidimensional, wraparound services
The Evidence:The Evidence:Women-Centered Materials and Programs Women-Centered Materials and Programs
That Show Improved OutcomesThat Show Improved Outcomes Helping Women Recover (Covington) Beyond Trauma (Covington) Seeking Safety (Najavits) Female Offender Treatment and Employment Program
(FOTEP - CA) In-Prison Substance Abuse Program (S. Covington’s
curriculum) Women Offender Case Management Model (NIC) Moving On (Vandieten & MacKenna)
Treatment Components Associated Treatment Components Associated with Better Outcomes for Womenwith Better Outcomes for Women
Review of 38 studies with randomized and non-randomized comparison group designs:
Child care Prenatal care Women-only admissions Supplemental services and workshops on women’s
focused topics Mental health services Intensive case management Comprehensive programming
City and County of San FranciscoCity and County of San FranciscoWomen’s Community Justice Reform Women’s Community Justice Reform
BlueprintBlueprint
Integrate criminal justice and community services and programs through a collaborative leadership structure.
Develop sentencing and pretrial alternatives by expanding noncustodial and community alternatives.
Create an intensive and coordinated case management system that follows women through every phase of the criminal justice process.
Expand and enhance programming that creates a continuum across custodial, residential and non-residential settings.
Design an integrated data collection, evaluation and oversight process to monitor, inform and improve systems.
What is the Work?What is the Work?• Prevention
• Do no harm
• Gender-responsive services
• Reentry to community
Source: Covington, S. and Bloom, B., 1999
ConclusionConclusion• Gender matters• Integration of gender-informed theories will
increase the efficacy of services for women and girls.
• Consideration of women’s (and girls) pathways into the criminal justice system is critical to assessment and case management.
• Women’s (and girls) strengths should be incorporated into any model of rehabilitation.
• Multi-disciplinary approaches will yield the greatest results for women and girls.
“…women whose lives represent all women’s issues-magnified.”
ResourcesResources
Center for Gender and Justicecenterforgenderandjustice.org
National Institute of Correctionsnicic.gov
Barbara [email protected]
