ABSTRACT
Criminalised women remain one of the most marginalised voices with their experiences of community supervision largely absent from the evidence base underpinning practice. Research does, however, demonstrate the importance of gender responsive, trauma informed and service provision (Covington, S. (2007) ‘The Relational Theory of Women’s Psychological Development: Implications for the Criminal Justice System’. In Zaplin, R. (ed.) Female Offenders: Critical Perspectives and Effective Interventions, 2nd ed., Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers; Hopper, E., Bassuk, E. and Olivet, J. (2010) ‘Shelter from the Storm: Trauma-Informed Care in Homelessness Services Settings’. The Open Health Services and Policy Journal, 3(2), pp. 80–100). In addition, the importance of supportive practitioner relationships, within a compassionate environment, that overcome shame and stigmatisation is reflected in wider literature. This is especially important as wider relational networks of criminalised women demonstrate limited strong and positive connections within environments of abuse, victimisation and dysfunction. This chapter will highlight the importance of criminalised women’s relational networks and how their experiences and behaviour should be considered within the context of trauma. Through narratives the qualities women deem important to enable them to develop strong, trusting, respectful and encouraging relationships during their community supervision will be presented. In addition, the safe and nurturing practice environments that create these relational opportunities and mutual peer support will be highlighted. Evidence will critique the limited continuity and flexibility within service delivery, concluding with practice recommendations that highlight the need for greater connections between policy, academia and practice.
