1. Gender-Responsive Strategies
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 Training
In Collaboration with 211 and the County of San Bernardino Department of
Public Health

2. Overview 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; and
Implications and examples for policy and practice

3. Women 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
Women under criminal justice supervision differ from men in terms of histories of victimization, health needs, drug use, connections to others and responsibilities to children. These factors are further related to women’s pathways to crime and offense patterns.
They also differ dramatically in terms of their behavior and responses to correctional supervision.

4. Justice-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.

5. 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

6. Women 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

7. Women 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.

8. San Bernardino County
Average Daily Jail Population-8/11/13 = 5928 Male 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

9. Gender Differential in Offense Patterns
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)

10. Imprisoned Women - CA
In 2011, there were 9,038 women in California state prisons, down from 9,763 in 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

11. Seven Major Counties Reduced Commitments to State Prison by 50%
Santa Barbara
Santa Clara
Kings
Tulare
San Mateo
Ventura
San Bernardino

12. Gender 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.

13. What Does Gender 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)

14. Differences with a Distinction: Women and Correctional Practice
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.

15. Criminal 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.

16. Making the Case for Appropriate Policy & Practice for 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

17. Five Key Findings . . .
An effective system for females is structured differently than for males
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

18. Correctional sanctions & interventions consider the lesser degree of harm created by the typical offense patterns of women
Gender-responsive policy & practice considers women’s relationships (especially family) & their roles in the community when delivering both sanctions & interventions
Community services are essential to a gender-responsive CJ system

19. Substance Mental Illness Abuse Other HIV/ Health Problems AIDS Trauma
Homelessness
Other
Health Problems
© S. Covington, 2012
Source: Vivian Brown, Ph.D.

20. Family 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

21. Substance 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

22. 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

23. Health 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

24. Mental 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

25. Substance Abuse, Mental Health 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

26. Trauma History Among Criminal Justice-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
© S. Covington, Ph.D., 2012

27. Children
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

28. Education & Employment
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

29. Reentry Challenges Reunification with Children Employment Housing
Medical and Mental Health Services
Childcare
Support Systems

30. Legal Barriers Facing Women Returning to Their Communities
Personal Responsibility & Work Opportunity Act of 1996
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Higher Education Act of 1998
Public Housing - Section 8
Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997
Discrimination

31. Acknowledge that gender makes a difference
Principle 1
Acknowledge that gender makes a difference

32. Create an environment based on safety, respect, & dignity
Principle 2
Create an environment based on safety, respect, & dignity

33. Principle 3
Develop policies, practices & programs that are relational & promote healthy connections to children, family, significant others, & the community

34. Principle 4
Address substance abuse, trauma, & mental health issues through comprehensive, integrated, culturally relevant services & appropriate supervision

35. Principle 5
Provide women with opportunities to improve their socioeconomic conditions

36. Principle 6
Establish a system of community supervision & reentry with comprehensive, collaborative services

37. Effects of Gender on Current CJ Practice
Classification & assessment procedures
Women’s services & programs
Staffing & training

38. Risk/Needs Assessment
Influenced by two theoretical perspectives:
The Canadian Model – gender-neutral (Andrews, Bonta, Gendreau, Hoge)
Feminist/Gender Responsive Model (Bloom,
Owen, Covington, Chesney-Lind)

39. Canadian Model “The Big Four”
Criminal history
Criminal associates
Criminal personality
Criminal thinking

40. Stand-Alone Women’s Risk/Needs Assessment
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) 40

41. The Foundation for Women’s Services
Safety
Community
Institutional
Rehabilitation
Programming
Treatment
Services

42. Approaches for Developing Gender-Responsive Programs and Services
Structure
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.

43. 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.

44. Approaches for Developing Gender-Responsive Programs and Services
Content 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.

45. 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.

46. Services and Programs for Women Should Acknowledge Gender Issues
Substance abuse
Physical, sexual, and psychological abuse
Health and mental health
Education & vocational training
Life skills

47. Staffing 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

48. The Context of Women’s Lives: A Multidisciplinary Review of Research & Theory

49. Theoretical Perspectives
Pathways Perspective
Relational Theory & Female Development
Trauma Theory
Addiction Theory

50. Pathways 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)

51. The Relational Context is Critical in Understanding:
Reasons why females commit crimes
Behavior under supervision
Motivation for change
Reintegration into the community
Relationships with children & significant others

52. Trauma Theory Trauma is the injury done by violence & abuse
Trauma occurs on multiple levels
Trauma recovery (Herman)
Trauma-informed services

53. Trauma-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)

54. A Culture Shift: The Core Values of Trauma-Informed Care
Fallot/Community Connections/2008
A Culture Shift: The Core Values of Trauma-Informed Care
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 54

55. Theory of Addiction Holistic health model
Relational aspects of addiction
Incorporation of trauma & relational theories

56. Emerging Research and Best 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

57. Emerging Research and Best 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

58. The Evidence: Women-Centered Materials and Programs That 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)

59. Treatment Components Associated with 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

60. City and County of San Francisco Women’s Community Justice Reform Blueprint
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.

61. Gender-responsive services Reentry to community
What is the Work?
Prevention
Do no harm
Gender-responsive services
Reentry to community
Source: Covington, S. and Bloom, B., 1999

62. Conclusion 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.

63. “…women whose lives represent all women’s issues-magnified.”

64. Resources Center for Gender and Justice centerforgenderandjustice.org
National Institute of Corrections
nicic.gov
Barbara Bloom