Developing Comprehensive Prison-Based Therapeutic Community Treatment for Women

SUMMARY Experience and research have affirmed that treatment works for drug-involved offenders. Nonetheless, adapting these treatment models for drug-involved women offenders remains a challenge. One treatment modality, the therapeutic community (TC), has proven effective for women. This article discusses the adaptations necessary to the TC model to make it appropriate and effective for drug-involved women. Several themes are discussed including the staffing structure, staff-client interactions, the safety of the treatment environment, characteristics of the residential community, programming, and the treatment program's relationship with various social service agencies. In addition, the program elements specific to effective TCs for women in the criminal justice setting are also discussed. The experiences of developing, implementing and operating a specific TC for drug-involved female offenders provide examples of establishing an effective TC for women.