Assessment and Treatment of Adult Female Offenders provides a review of the research literature to guide evidence-based practice in the assessment and treatment of this population. The book provides a historical overview of women's crime and imprisonment, followed by a global review of various theories of female criminality.

About the Authors ix Series Editors’ Preface xi Preface xv Acknowledgements xix 1 The Extent and Nature of Female Offending and Incarceration Patterns 1 2 Theories of Female Offending 15 3 Assessment for Classification of Women Offenders 41 4 Assessing Women’s Risk 53 5 Assessing Women’s Needs 83 6 Responsivity, Treatment and Women Offenders 115 7 Conclusion 137 References 149 Index 171 

Current correctional practice is decidedly evidence-based. Regrettably, however, the majority of research studies has either focused exclusively on male offenders, or has failed to disaggregate the results by gender. As such, the question remains: do effective female-specific correctional services differ from effective correctional services in general? If so, how? In this groundbreaking text, Kelley Blanchette and Shelley Brown explore whether and how the assessment and treatment of women offenders should differ from that of men. Firmly grounded in a theoretical context, this book focuses on the specific areas of risk, needs and responsivity. It reviews the nature and scope of adult female offending, provides an overview of contemporary theories, offers guidance on evidence-based practice for assessing women’s risks and needs and explores directions for future research. The result is a reconciliation of diverse perspectives and a reformulated gender-informed paradigm for the assessment and treatment of women offenders. The Assessment and Treatment of Women Offenders presents policy makers and practitioners with the evidence needed to develop successful services for this population. It is essential reading for all professionals working with adult female offenders.