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Women Offenders and the Gendered Effects of Public Policy1

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  • Barbara Bloom
  • Barbara Owen
  • Stephanie Covington

Abstract

At 17%, women represent a significant proportion of all offenders under criminal justice supervision in the US. Drawing on the findings from their report, “Gender‐Responsive Strategies: Research, Practice, and Guiding Principles for Women Offenders,” the authors maintain that public policy has ignored the context of women's lives and that women offenders have disproportionately suffered from the impact of ill‐informed public policy. This discussion of the implications of gender within the criminal justice system is based on a simple assumption: responding to the differences between women and men in criminal behavior and to their antecedents is critical to gender‐responsive policy. Building on the pathway theoretical perspective, we find that in addition to the gendered impact of the war on drugs, policy changes in welfare reform, housing, and other social policy arenas combine to create a disparate impact on drug abusing women and women of color. Key policy areas affecting the lives of women offenders and their children include welfare benefits, drug treatment, housing, education, employment, and reunification with children. We conclude that addressing the realities of women's lives through gender‐responsive policy and programs is fundamental to improved outcomes at all criminal justice phases. A blueprint for gender‐responsive policy development is described through six guiding principles and their policy implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbara Bloom & Barbara Owen & Stephanie Covington, 2004. "Women Offenders and the Gendered Effects of Public Policy1," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 21(1), pages 31-48, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:revpol:v:21:y:2004:i:1:p:31-48
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1541-1338.2004.00056.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Mears, Daniel P. & Bacon, Sarah, 2009. "Improving criminal justice through better decision making: Lessons from the medical system," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 142-154, March.
    2. Miller, Holly Ventura & Miller, J. Mitchell & Barnes, J.C., 2016. "Reentry programming for opioid and opiate involved female offenders: Findings from a mixed methods evaluation," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 129-136.
    3. Bardin, Addie & Verma, Shelley & Wagner, Julia & Ruffier, Angela & Morse, Diane S., 2022. "FOCUS on women: Program evaluation of a pilot probation and primary care transitions clinic collaboration☆," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    4. Miller, Keva M. & Bank, Lewis, 2013. "Moderating effects of race on internalizing and externalizing behaviors among children of criminal justice and child welfare involved mothers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 472-481.

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