The developmental structure of the OPD Pathway for women does pay some attention to the structural problems that contribute to the dysfunctional lifestyles and social disadvantage of many women offenders. There is, for example, some demonstration, most notably through the access to independent mentoring and advocacy services, of a women’s broader sociological conception of the challenges women face and the services they need. The notion of an integrated approach that facilitates the continuation of services beyond release acknowledges the connection between pro-social decision-making and access to systemic support. The OPD Pathway for Women also addresses the inherent risk of disempowerment that derives from an engagement in individual’s corrective programming. By following good practice in other jurisdictions it is expected that women participants will engage in all elements of programme design, delivery and review (Laishes 2002; Stathopoulos 2012). The aim is to a in her and to ‘acknowledge woman’s expertise own ‘story’’ allow women to identify their own 2015:35). However, needs (d’Cruz giving women a in their engagement with rehabilitative services is ‘voice’ particularly challenging in prison settings, and made even more difficult to achieve in the context of an illness-based approach to trauma that notion that clients are deficient and perpetuates ‘the disordered’(Pollack 2005:81).
The developmental structure of the OPD Pathway for women does pay some attention to the structural problems that contribute to the dysfunctional lifestyles and social disadvantage of many women offenders. There is, for example, some demonstration, most notably through the women’s access to independent mentoring and advocacy services, of a broader sociological conception of the challenges women face and the services they need. The notion of an integrated approach that facilitates the continuation of services beyond release acknowledges the connection between pro-social decision-making and access to systemic support. The OPD Pathway for Women also addresses the inherent risk of disempowerment that derives from an individual’s engagement in corrective programming. By following good practice in other jurisdictions it is expected that women participants will engage in all elements of programme design, delivery and review (Laishes 2002; Stathopoulos 2012). The aim is to ‘acknowledge a woman’s expertise in her own ‘story’’ and to allow women to identify their own needs (d’Cruz 2015:35). However, giving women a ‘voice’ in their engagement with rehabilitative services is particularly challenging in prison settings, and made even more difficult to achieve in the context of an illness-based approach to trauma that perpetuates ‘the notion that clients are deficient and disordered’(Pollack 2005:81).
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