Working with Female Offenders: A Gender-Sensitive Approach

"This book is a comprehensive, compelling text in which Katherine van Wormer artfully addresses areas that are absent from the literature on criminal justice and the helping professions as they relate to the special needs of girls and women offenders.... Noting that 'a paradigm shift is in the wind,' the book is brilliantly constructed as it underscores the contradictions and paradoxes within the penal system.... The author's writing style is a notable strength as she convincingly advocates for a multidimensional, gender-sensitive approach while she systematically dissects the micro- and macrolevel dynamics that affect policy, programs, and research on female offenders." (Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, February 2012)

"We have long known that gender matters in women's crime. Dr. van Wormer's wonderfully rich and detailed work clearly establishes that gender matters in quality correctional programming as well. Encyclopedic in scope and full of very relevant work drawn from the fields of biology, psychology, criminology and corrections, this book is a must read for those working with girl and women offenders."
—Meda Chesney-Lind, Professor, Women's Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa

"In the timely and thoughtful book, Working with Female Offenders, Dr. van Wormer provides a gender-sensitive lens through which the reader can examine pathways to female criminality, a global perspective on female crime and punishment, and innovative treatment approaches. This book is a must-have for any student or professional who wishes to truly impact and empower the lives of female offenders."
—David W. Springer, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin, School of Social Work

"This book is timely in light of promising developments that are taking place at every level of the criminal justice system, the trend toward effective treatment and away from mandatory prison sentences for drug offenders. It is a must read for policy makers, practitioners, academics, and students in criminal justice, social work, and other related fields."
—Barbara E. Bloom, Professor, Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies, Sonoma State University, California