1. Gendered Justice: Women in the Criminal Justice System Stephanie S. Covington, Ph.D., LCSW Center for Gender & Justice July 12, 2004 Women Across the Life Span Baltimore, MD

2. Over 1 Million Women are Currently under Criminal Justice Supervision 17 % of Total Offenders 84% under Community Supervision Last 10 Years : 81% increase in women 45% increase in Men

3. Characteristics of Women Offenders Disproportionately women of color In their early to mid-thirties Most likely to have been convicted of drug or drug-related offense Fragmented family histories with other family members in the CJ system Survivors of physical and/or sexual abuse

4. Significant substance abuse problems Multiple physical & mental health problems Unmarried mothers of minor children High school degree/GED Limited vocational training Sporadic work histories

5. Male/Female Differences Employment histories Substance abuse problems Criminal involvement Psychological functioning Physical/sexual abuse history (Messina, Burdon and Prendergast 2001)

6. Mothers and Children Mothers and Children 65% of women in state prisons have minor children 59% of women in federal prisons have minor children 80% of women in California prisons are mothers

7. This is a Population Marginalized by Race, Class, and Gender

8. What is criminogenic? Is there a criminal mind? What creates a criminal?

9. Criminality Genetics Environment Laws we create, their interpretation and enforcement

10. “Doing Time”: Women’s Experiences in the Criminal Justice System Bail Sentencing Policies Classification Programming Mother-Child Contact Management Strategies Transition into the Community

11. National Institute of Corrections Barbara Bloom, Ph.D. Barbara Owen, Ph.D. Stephanie Covington, Ph.D.

12. Overview As the number of women under criminal justice supervision continues to increase at alarming rates, there is a critical need for gender-responsive principles & strategies to guide effective programs, services, policy, & research.

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 the lives of women and girls and that addresses and responds to their strengths and challenges. (Covington & Bloom)

14. WISDOM UNDERSTANDING KNOWLEDGE INFORMATION DATA

15. Sources National focus groups Literature, research & policy review Practitioner advisory board Multiple reviewers across the CJ spectrum

16. DATA Noise becomes data when it has cognitive pattern.

17. Information Data becomes information when assembled into a coherent whole which can be related to other information.

18. Knowledge Information becomes knowledge when integrated with other information in a form useful for making decisions and determining actions.

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

20. Acknowledging Gender: Key Differences Sex & gender differences Health issues Violence against women & children Interrelationship between substance abuse, mental health & trauma Socioeconomic status: Employment & education

21. Sex and Gender Differences Sex differences are biologically determined (reproduction, body size, etc.) Gender differences are societally determined (expected social roles) Most differences between males & females are based on gender, not biology

22. Health Issues Males & females experience disease differently (cardiovascular disease, cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS) Women offenders have backgrounds of inadequate health care & risky behaviors Women prisoners are more likely than men to test positive for HIV Pregnancy & reproductive needs

23. Violence Against Women and Children Witnessing domestic violence as a child may cause increased vulnerability to victimization in adulthood Women in the CJ system have extensive histories of physical & sexual abuse & they are three times more likely to have a history of abuse than their male counterparts One-third of women in state prison & one- quarter of those in jails report being raped at some time in their lives

24. Substance Abuse, Mental Health and Trauma The interrelationship of substance abuse, mental health & trauma is different in the lives of women The pathway to drug use & abuse is more complex for women Women who abuse drugs have higher rates of childhood physical & sexual abuse than men About 22% of women in jail are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

25. Socioeconomic Status Economically disadvantaged as compared to men Feminization of poverty A tendency to be undereducated, unskilled, & underemployed Employment in entry level, low skill & low pay jobs

26. Theoretical Perspective Pathways Perspective Relational Theory & Female Development Trauma Theory Addiction Theory

27. 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)

28. Relational Theory and Female Development Stone Center Relational Model: Connection with others guides growth for females Gilligan’s theory of female “moral” development Communication

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

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

31. Theory of Addiction Holistic health model Relational aspects of addiction

33. Guiding Principles for a Gender-Responsive Criminal Justice System Gender Environment Relationships Services & Supervision Economic & Social Status Community

34. Overarching Strategies That Can be Applied to Each Guiding Principle: Adopt Support Resources Training Oversight Congruence Environment Evaluation

35. Principle 1 Acknowledge that gender makes a difference

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

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

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

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

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

41. Approaches for Developing Gender-Responsive Programs and Services Structure Contemporary theoretical perspectives on women’s 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 competencies and strengths and promote self- reliance.

42. 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.

43. Structure (cont.) Cultural awareness and sensitivity are promoted using the resources and strengths available in various communities. Gender-responsive assessment tools and individualized treatment plans are utilized, with appropriate treatment matched to the identified needs and assets if each client. Transitional programs are included as part of gender-responsive practices, with a particular focus on building long-term community support networks for women.

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 are 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. Gender-Responsive Program Materials Helping Women Recover: A Program for Treating Substance Abuse Voices: A Program of Self-Exploration and Empowerment for girls Beyond Trauma: A Healing Journey for Women

47. HOLISTIC, SPIRITUAL, INTUITIVE, CREATIVE, RARE WISDOM UNDERSTANDING KNOWLEDGE INFORMATION DATA SEPARABLE, LINEAR, MECHANISTIC, MEASURABLE, ABUNDANT

48. UNDERSTANDING Knowledge becomes understanding when related to other knowledge in a manner useful in anticipating, judging and acting.

49. HOLISTIC, SPIRITUAL, INTUITIVE, CREATIVE, RARE WISDOM Understanding becomes wisdom when informed by purpose, ethics, principle, memory and projection.

50. What Helps? Relationships with people who cared, listened, and could be trusted Relationships with other women who were supportive and role models Proper assessment / classification Well-trained staff--especially female staff Proper medication

51. Programs -- not just incarceration, but job training, education, substance abuse and mental health treatment, and parenting Inmate-centered programs Efforts to reduce trauma and revictimization/alternatives to seclusion and restraint Financial resources Safe environments Source: Galbraith, S., (1998). And So I began to Listen to Their Stories…: Working with Women in the Criminal Justice System. Policy Research Inc.

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

53. For More Information: Stephanie S. Covington, Ph.D., LCSW Institute for Relational Development Center for Gender and Justice La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 454-8528 Fax: (858) 454-8598 www.stephaniecovington.com www.centerforgenderandjustice.org