Growing out of crime : a multi-component lifeskills framework for female prisoners at Corradino Correctional Facility

Abstract

This study deals with the female prisoners at the CCF during the months of January and February 2004. All the female prisoners at the time took part in the study. These, together with a number of practitioners working closely with them were interviewed in an effort to identify the female prisoners' needs and provide a framework for a lifeskills programme that will help them to increase their self-awareness and re-integrate successfully into the community upon release. All the informants were thus questioned on issues such as, the current situation in prison, their previous experiences and their views on future developments at CCF. Subsequent analysis of the data showed that female prisoners had different needs to their male counterparts, needs which were not being adequately catered for while in prison. Furthermore, this data showed that these prisoners needed to be offered a holistic programme that included aftercare services so as to be successfully reintegrated into society. In the light of these findings, this study presents a framework for a lifeskills programme that aims to empower the female prisoners with the skills necessary to live an autonomous non-criminal life upon release.