Creating an effective plan for the management and treatment of female offenders

There are nearly 2.1 million violent female offenders annually in the United States (Greenbelt et al. 2000). Three out of four female violent offenders commit simple assaults, and three out of four female violent offenders attack other women. The incarceration rate for women is increasing at nearly twice the rate of men (Gater, 2005). Some risk factors contributing to the increase in criminal behavior among women include spousal abuse, substance abuse, and mental illness. The treatment of female offenders is becoming an increasingly important issue. Female offenders are often incarcerated in facilities designed for male treatment and rehabilitation needs. In the past, it was considered that male and female inmates had similar treatment needs, but as correctional administrators become aware of the increasing numbers and the differing needs of female offenders, they must re-evaluate the available treatment programs and begin to implement revisions to the management of program plans.
It is now clear that differences in treatment between women and men within the judicial and correctional systems often have harmed rather than helped women (Harris 1998). In addition, Harris (1998) adds that evidence continues to grow of ways in which women’s experiences have been tied to their race and class, as well as the part of the country in which they lived and other personal characteristics. Research suggests that female offenders differ from male offenders on many factors relevant to rehabilitation and treatment planning.
The focus of current research is why the population of female offenders is increasing drastically in comparison to the male population. The drastic increase in the number of female offenders illustrates that there is a strong need to increase the number of treatment