Substance Abuse, Treatment Needs, & Risk Level of Female Offenders in Jail

• In Event: Substance Use Programs, Completion, & Risk Factors

Abstract

We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of women incarcerated over the last three decades. Further, women in jails and prisons are more likely to have a substance abuse problem than women in the general population. In an era of implementing evidence-based practices to produce better outcomes, females continue to lag behind males in terms of having their treatment needs identified and met while under criminal justice supervision. This study examines the substance abuse treatment needs, risk levels, and recidivism rates of two groups of women offenders: one group mandated into a 90-day in custody-substance abuse program (n=55) and the other a comparison group of women in the jail who were not receiving any treatment services (n=40). Implications for service provision and criminal justice policy will be discussed.

Authors

• Wendy P. Guastaferro, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Rachel Gage, Georgia State University

• Lisa Muftic, Sam Houston State University

• Laura Lutgen, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Bridget Nurding, Sam Houston State University