Natalie M. Anumba

How “Specific” Are Gender-Specific Rehabilitation Needs? An Empirical Analysis

There has been relatively little empirical research on the distinctive characteristics and needs of female offenders that could help guide rehabilitative approaches that are gender specific. This study considered a sample of female offenders (N = 886) and male offenders (N = 1,435) who had been released from incarceration and provided with assessment services as part of the community reentry process. Comparisons were conducted using the employment, companions, and financial domains of the Level of Service Inventory (LSI-R and LS-CMI). Female offenders received significantly higher ratings in companion and financial deficits, consistent with some prior research suggesting that social and financial risk factors for offending may be more substantial in women. Implications for research and the practice of gender-specific rehabilitation approaches are discussed.

Social Functioning, Victimization, and Mental Health among Female Offenders

Females who have experienced victimization or abuse during childhood tend to have poorer outcomes in adulthood with regard to criminal behavior, mental health, and social relationships. Although scholars have hypothesized that female offenders may benefit from programming that emphasizes empowerment and healthy relationships, empirical examination of this idea remains limited. Using a sample of 300 female offenders, this study empirically explored whether a history of victimization is a risk factor for future mental health problems and criminal behavior, and whether positive social functioning serves as a protective factor for females with histories of victimization. The results indicated that victimization history in this sample may not be associated with recidivism risk but with vulnerability to stress and mental health problems. In addition, the presence of social resources such as education and noncriminal friends appeared to act as a buffer against stress experienced as a result of life events.

Forensic mental health assessments in death penalty cases

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PREFACE 1. Overview of Forensic Mental Health Assessments in Death Penalty Cases 2. Death Penalty Litigation 3. Death Penalty Jurisprudence 4. Ethical Considerations in Death Penalty Asessments 5. Eligibility for the Death Penalty - Part 1: Atkins-Type Evaluations 6. Eligibilty for the Death Penalty - Part 2: Competance for Execution Evaluations 7. Evaluations Addressing Mitigation in Capital Sentencing 8. Evaluations of Violence Risk in Capital Sentencing 9. Orinciples of Forensic Mental Health Assessment 10. Sample Reports REFERENCES INDEX