Expanding Treatment, Recovery, and Reentry Services for Female Offenders: Improving Outcomes through Client-Centered Interventions.

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of a specialized program aimed at improving substance use disorder and trauma treatment, recovery, and reentry services for adult female offenders. Trained recovery coaches delivered pretreatment interventions such as prescreening, motivational interviewing, and support-building to facilitate treatment entry and improve outcomes. Of 113 participants, 40% identified as racial/ethnic minorities, and 72% fell within the 25-45 age range. A notable 44.5% reduction in self-reported psychiatric symptoms was observed, alongside significant improvements in abstinence and trauma symptoms. Recovery capital and psychosocial functioning showed marked improvement including significant changes in employment status and housing stability and a decrease in criminal justice involvement. The results suggest that targeted, client-centered approaches can effectively improve recovery and psychosocial functioning among female offenders while reducing re-incarceration rates. These findings underscore the importance of addressing the unique needs of this population in both pre-and post-release settings to ensure equitable access to reentry services.