Research note: Re-examining the gender responsive approach to female offending and its basis in the pathways literature

Abstract

This article examines the popular gender-responsive approach to assessing female offenders and providing services for them. Finding decidedly mixed results about the effectiveness of this approach, the theoretical frame underlying it, the pathways literature, is reexamined. Particular attention is given to research conducted outside of the United States and studies that examine the pathways to early and late onset of offending. Taken together, these results suggest that finances, relationships and addiction may be more proximal causes of female offending than a history of trauma and mental illness. As such, the relevance of the gender-responsive movement in women’s corrections is questioned.

Keywords:

• Women offenders
• pathways
• gender responsive

Notes

Notes

1 Although there are many different feminist approaches in criminology, generally this perspective encompasses a critical view of traditional theories used to explain (male) offending and the methods used to test these theories. The pathways framework was developed to address these criticisms (see Wattanaporn, & Holtfreter, 2014).

2 For a history of the development of the RNR model, see Public Safety Canada (2018)

3 The results of the age at onset of offending analyses are available from the authors upon request.

4 The OPD pathway was initially designed to expand mental health services for the male offender population by “replacing the treatability test for psychopaths with a medical treatment test for all mentally disordered offenders irrespective of clinical diagnosis” (Player, 2017, p. 570). For males this included anyone deemed to be at high risk for serious harm to the public (repeat sexual or violent offending) as a result of a severe personality disorder. The same criteria were applied to female offenders but it also included women with serious personality disorders but who were not classified as being at high risk for serious harm to the public (see Player, 2017, p. 572).