7: WORKING WITH WOMEN OFFENDERS

It is only in recent years that gender-responsive research revealed the fundamental differences in the needs and offending pathways of male and female offenders. As such, correctional practices that were designed primarily for male offenders may not be as effective when it is applied to female offenders. This paved the way for the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) to embark on a journey to broaden our understanding about the characteristics of our female offenders and the challenges they face. This shaped the way we tailor our interventions and transform the physical environment to include gender-responsive elements. We hope to share what we have learnt so far, highlighting the difference in approach when working with female offenders, as well as pertinent information that would be helpful in working with female offenders.