The Psychological Needs of Women Prisoners: Implications for Rehabilitation and Management

The rehabilitation and management of women offenders in prison are topics which continue to elicit concern, controversy and, often, disillusionment based on the failure of previous policies and initiatives. In this paper we argue rehabilitation and management should be based on the established needs of women prisoners and, in particular, on the Responsivity principle (adapting programs and methods to the gender-specific needs and requirements of women). Our review of the literature indicates major problems of psychological and psychiatric morbidity, including psychiatric disorder (especially posttraumatic stress disorder; PTSD), substance abuse, personality disorders, sexual/physical abuse and self-harm. The implications of such findings for good practice are discussed.