How 'Specific' Are Gender-Specific Rehabilitation Needs?: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract

There has been relatively little empirical research on the distinctive characteristics and needs of female offenders that could help guide rehabilitative approaches that are gender specific. This study considered a sample of female offenders (N = 886) and male offenders (N = 1,435) who had been released from incarceration and provided with assessment services as part of the community reentry process. Comparisons were conducted using the employment, companions, and financial domains of the Level of Service Inventory (LSI-R and LS-CMI). Female offenders received significantly higher ratings in companion and financial deficits, consistent with some prior research suggesting that social and financial risk factors for offending may be more substantial in women. Implications for research and the practice of gender-specific rehabilitation approaches are discussed.

Keywords: gender-specific; rehabilitation; community corrections; criminogenic needs