In-depth Notes on Gender-Responsive Approach to Female Offending

Overview of Gender-Responsive Approach (GR) to Female Offending

• The Gender-Responsive (GR) approach focuses on understanding and addressing the unique needs of female offenders.
• This research note critically examines the effectiveness of GR tools and theory, suggesting that factors like finances and relationships may play a more crucial role than previously acknowledged.

Key Issues Identified in the GR Approach

• Mixed Effectiveness: Examination of GR assessment tools shows that results about their effectiveness are inconclusive.
• Pathways Literature: Traditional focus on trauma and mental health as primary causes of female offending might be misplaced.
• Mixed Gender Findings: Studies indicate significant overlap in male and female pathways to crime, questioning the uniqueness of female offending experiences.

Increase in Female Imprisonment

• Between 1990 and 2005, the female prison population doubled in the U.S. and tripled in England despite a decline post-2005.
• Number of imprisoned women in the U.S. increased by 83,000 and 2,000 in England over two decades.

Development of GR Assessment Tools

• GR tools were developed as a response to the growing recognition of female offenders' needs, in contrast to the traditional Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R).
• LSI-R: Measures recidivism risk based on the RNR (risk, needs, responsivity) model. Critics argue that it doesn’t adequately address the unique needs of female offenders.

Criticism of LSI-R

• Feminist criminologists argue LSI-R homogenizes women's diverse needs and fails to consider cultural and socioeconomic factors.
• A GR hybrid model addressing pathways literature focuses on abuse, mental health, and unhealthy relationships.

Varying Effectiveness of GR Interventions

• Evaluations of GR interventions yield mixed results; some show a temporary reduction in recidivism while others find no significant differences compared to traditional interventions.
• Example: The Moving On program led to lower recidivism rates in voluntary participants compared to mandatory participants due to inherent willingness to change.

Understanding Pathways to Crime

• GR theories suggest distinct pathways for women based on trauma and mental health yet numerous studies indicate significant overlap with male offenders:
  • Daly's Research: Identified five pathways to crime; overlaps exist in experiences of victimization and later life deficits.
  • Joosen et al. Study: Found four comparable types of offenders: multiproblem property offenders, multiproblem violent offenders, drug-connected offenders, and low-risk offenders.

Financial Issues and Relationships

• Financial instability and problematic relationships are critical factors in female offending, with debts being particularly influential in criminal behavior.
• Studies indicate that individuals with debts are 3.6 times more likely to commit crimes. Significant financial strain can aggravate the reoffending cycle post-incarceration.

The Age of Onset in Offending

• Patterns in onset of offending differ between genders; women show higher rates of late-onset offending compared to men, with 78% of female offenders starting post-18 years old.
• Early onset identified in a minority of women correlates to significant childhood adversity, but late-onset offenders exhibit more stable early lives, complicating the narrative around pathways and risk factors.