ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on female offenders and looks at this population across prison, jail, probation, and parole. The needs of females and the types of crimes they commit are also examined, as well as the characteristics that they possess. Although they are like male offenders in that they have been convicted of criminal activities, underlying those events are unaddressed social, personal, and medical needs that are best handled through treatment. We also explore the pathways to criminal behavior for women and the debate concerning their treatment. Finally, the contrasting models used to treat women are presented, as is the research support for each approach.
