Current approaches to drug treatment for women offenders. Project WORTH. Women's Options for Recovery, Treatment, and...

This paper reports ethnographic findings on current approaches to drug treatment for women offenders. Drug treatment programs serving women offenders have employed a range of therapeutic interventions to address drug use and criminality. However, programs have recently begun to address clients' victimization experiences as an integral if not central feature of women's drug use and participation in illegal activities. Treatment approaches at eight corrections- and community-based programs in New York City and Portland, Oregon are described. Data were obtained from life history interviews conducted with 60 women and observation of treatment activities. Developments in treatment approaches in corrections versus community settings and gender-specific services are described. Programs have tailored treatment approaches for women offenders by offering incest and domestic violence survivor groups, assigning therapeutic rather than punitive sanctions, and training corrections staff to support treatment goals.