“We need help too”: establishing client and practitioner demand for responsive programs for women sentenced for child sexual abuse in Australia

Abstract

There is growing recognition internationally of the prevalence and impact of female-perpetrated child sexual abuse (CSA). Prior research has indicated gender-specific offending pathways and motivations for women involved in this crime, bringing into question whether there is a need for tailored offense-­specific interventions and whether these would increase treatment efficacy for this population. Using data collected across three Australian jurisdictions, this study used a mixed-methods design to explore the perceptions of correctional practitioners (n = 44) and justice-involved women currently serving a sentence for CSA (n = 18) on accessibility and demand for offense-specific correctional programs, and perceived benefits of such programs. Results indicate substantial support from practitioners (93.18%) and justice-involved women (100%) for the development of offense-specific interventions, despite there currently being few opportunities to access such interventions within correctional settings in Australia. A range of perceived benefits of such programs were indicated by both sample populations, namely, that targeted support would likely reduce the risk of recidivism by promoting greater self-awareness and improvement, peer support, and future-focused planning. Findings highlight a significant practice gap in correctional treatment and underscore the current demand for offense-specific interventions to improve outcomes for women who perpetrate CSA.