Women Offenders–Managing Risk

Abstract

This presentation sets the context by providing basic statistics and considers some of the main preoccupations over the last decade which include the growth of numbers of women in prison, concern for the vulnerability of women offenders, recognition of gender-specific needs and diversion from custody. Managing women in prison involved understanding the pathways to offending, resettlement needs and risks; and the "connecting threads of life history" on the pathway to offending were described. Understanding risk meant being concerned about risk of harm to self as well as to others, intergenerational risk, as well as risk of re-offending. Options for addressing these needs and risks were discussed.