The Good Lives Model in practice: Paths towards social reintegration of women who have spent ime in prison

• In Event: Intervention with Girls and Women Involved in Gangs and Violence

Abstract

Incarceration rates in El Salvador have been increasing drastically over the past couple of years, especially since the government implemented the state of exception. While the overall number of men in prison is far greater than that of women, the incarceration rate of women has been growing much quicker than that of men. However, social reintegration programs designed specifically for women are lacking, and the programs that were available for (former) gang members have been suspended. In this presentation, I will discuss the challenges of developing a social reintegration program for women in a context where such (gender sensitive) programs are lacking, and certain populations are being excluded or marginalized from the rehabilitation and reintegration process. Empirical data were gathered between July 2023 and May 2024 and included semi-structured interviews with women, workshops and feedback sessions with former detainees and NGOs working with former detainees. Based on the Good Lives Model and the empirical data, a model for the social reintegration of women who have spent time in prison has been developed. The model focuses on women’s individual challenges and strengths, creating a unique path for each person.

Author

• Ellen Van Damme, Université Libre de Bruxelles