Women Offender Programs and Issues

Exemplary Community Programs For Federally Sentenced Women : A Literature Review

Conclusion

While several authors have proposed advancements for community-based services for FSW, little progress has been gained with respect to meeting the unique needs of this population. Programming for women remains culturally insensitive, scarce in its availability and accessibility, and formulated primarily to suit the needs of male clientele. It is with growing frustration that women in need of assistance encounter incompetent services united with high expectations. As one Aboriginal parolee implored,

"Survivors of abuse all need understanding, we need love too. I think love makes us responsible. As long as one person believes in us, we have hope. If we are isolated in the prison system...then for sure we need that community support"

(Task Force on FSW, 1990:11).