Women as offenders, women as victims

A report commissioned by Corrective Services NSW.

This report investigates the impact of childhood sexual trauma on women's pathways to crime and the role of corrections services in supporting these women. Women in the correctional system have high rates of sexual victimisation across the lifecourse, typically beginning in childhood and often accompanied by other forms of interpersonal violence. This report is presented in two parts. Part A reviews the research literature on the profile of women offenders, current theory and practice in offender rehabilitation, and the impacts of child sexual abuse and repeat victimisation. Based on these findings, Part B presents an evidence-informed framework to guide interventions and policies for supporting these women in correctional settings. It describes the principles of the framework and their implications for policies and practices.