Female Sex Offenders in the Correctional Service of Canada, Case Studies

TREATMENT OF FEMALE SEX OFFENDERS UNDER FEDERAL JURISDICTION

An examination of the treatment received by female sex offenders indicates that there was a variety of programming offered. A complete list of treatment received by each offender can be found in Table 1.

Table 1. Treatment Received by Female Sex Offenders under the jurisdiction of the Correctional Service of Canada

OFFENDER TREATMENT RECEIVED
Offender 1
  • substance abuse program for alcoholism
  • self-esteem programming
  • marital/family counselling
  • counselling to help deal with her own past sexual victimisation
Offender 2
  • Cognitive Skills Course
  • Alternatives to Violence
  • Nutrition and Well-being courses
  • furthering education
  • Stress Management
Offender 3
  • psychological counselling
  • Opportunities for Women
  • Cognitive Skills
  • Alternatives for Violence Program
  • Life Skills
  • career oriented training and education
Offender 4
  • Social Development
  • Sisterhood Chairperson
Offender 5
  • Alcoholics anonymous
  • drug program
Offender 6
  • alcohol and drug abuse treatment
  • community-based sex offender programming
  • one-on-one counselling with a psychologist
  • parenting classes
Offender 7
  • requires
    • intense psychiatric therapy
    • alcohol treatment
    • sexual abuse counselling
  • no information on treatment received
Offender 8
  • Anger Management
  • Breaking Barriers
  • Cognitive Skills
  • Native Addictions Program
  • Native Spirituality
  • one-on-one meetings at the Elizabeth Fry Society
  • cell studies to further her education
Offender 9
  • Drug Awareness
  • Alcoholics Anonymous
  • psychological counselling
  • further psychological counselling in community
Offender 10
  • upgrading education
  • parenting program
  • no female sex offender program available so met with psychologist
Offender 11
  • no information
Offender 12
  • teaching/disclosure group
  • one-to-one therapy sessions to deal with past sexual victimisation
  • sex offender treatment
  • Women's Recovery and Relapse Prevention Group
  • Women's Co-Dependency Group
  • Breaking Barriers
  • Abuse Hurts workshop
  • Assertiveness and Self-Esteem Training
  • Family Violence Program
Offender 13
  • Personal Life Management
  • Black Women's Collective Group
  • counselling on child abuse
  • Cognitive Skills
  • Parenting Group
  • Mutual Support Group
  • sex offender counselling
  • Substance Abuse Program
Offender 14
  • transfer pending from a provincial jurisdiction
Offender 15
  • transfer pending from a provincial jurisdiction
Offender 16
  • transfer pending from a provincial jurisdiction
Offender 17
  • transfer pending from a provincial jurisdiction
Offender 18
  • transfer pending from a provincial jurisdiction
Offender 19
  • transfer pending from a provincial jurisdiction

Of the nineteen women in the sample, information was available on the treatment of eleven. Of these eleven, there were five cases where the offender received sex offender counselling, whereas six did not. In some cases it was stated that specific sex offender programs were not available, and instead, women were referred to individual counselling sessions with a psychologist, to deal with issues surrounding their sex offending behaviour.

However, a considerable number of programs were offered to meet the specific treatment needs of female sex offenders. For example, issues such as substance abuse , anger management, self-esteem and family violence were addressed. Although the average woman received 4.5 programs and over 50% received specific sex offender counselling, the remaining six should have received, or should receive counselling specifically tailored to sexual abuse issues.