Abstract
The journey to desistance is complex and identifying how probation practice can support longer term cessation of offending demands greater attention (King, 2013). In this research paper, commissioned by The Griffins Society, McDermott (2012) explores the processes that may empower women to desist from offending whilst complying with community sentences.
The research was conducted within the London Probation Trust which implemented two woman-specific activity requirements in November 2010. Courts can sentence women to complete the Structured Supervision for Women (SSW) programme or to attend sessions with Women Ahead at the Jagonari Women's Education and Resource Centre (WERC). Whereas SSW is a one-to-one cognitive-behavioural programme delivered by probation staff, the Women Ahead activity involves individually tailored support services delivered within the voluntary sector Jagonari women’s centre. McDermott conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups with seven female service users who had been sentenced within the first year that these activity requirements were implemented.
The work highlights that competing priorities and budget cuts can lead to the marginalization of woman-specific criminal justice provisions, which in turn undermines the services that may promote women’s desistance (Gelsthorpe et al., 2007). Women’s community provisions often implement confidence boosting, empowerment approaches that aim to address women’s problems holistically. This contrasts with criminal justice interventions that prioritize punishment and enforcement. However, this latter focus does little to tackle complex, multiple social and economic problems that are at the heart of women’s offending. This research found that women require practical and holistic assistance alongside confidence-building support to overcome barriers and move away from criminal activity. Thus, there must be a clear delineation between criminal justice (focused on risk and punishment) and social support (that is individualized and holistic) in order to promote desistance.
By talking to women about their experiences, the research identifies the importance of meaningful relationships that integrate women into pro-social networks. The integration with mainstream services provided women with a supportive environment in which they felt they gained valuable help on a range of issues. Women spoke of how much they valued the opportunity to work with professionals who treated them with respect and showed genuine interest in their lives. McDermott found that none of the women expressed a preference for the gender of their probation offender managers. Instead, women highlighted the need for practitioners to demonstrate sensitivity to their individual needs and exercise influence to advocate on their behalf.
The paper calls on probation services to recognize their key role in identifying and endorsing effective woman-specific provisions that can inspire the confidence of the judiciary (Women and Equalities Group NOMS, 2012). Probation is reminded of its professional role to positively exercise power and influence to continually advocate for women and tackle the multiple vulnerabilities that they face. The report recommends that woman-specific services receive sustainable funding so that women can more easily access early preventive intervention before they enter the criminal justice system.
Moving Forward: Empowering Women to Desist from Offending − Exploring how Women Experience Empowerment, Compliance and Desistance during Enforced Contact with a Women’s Centre and Probation by Shelly-Ann McDermott (2012) is available for download from: www.thegriffinssociety.org