Contributions to this book challenge policy-makers and corrections systems to concentrate on community provision for women offenders and resist popular calls for more punitive responses to all offenders, women included. Contributors come from a wide range of countries including Australia, Canada, UK and USA. They argue that the criminogenic lens applied to women's offending must be gender-responsive if systems are to be successful at addressing the disadvantage and risk associated with offending behaviour.

Introduction 1. Female Offenders in the Community: The Context of Female Crime 2. Policy Developments in England and Wales 3. Policy Developments in the USA 4. Policy Developments in Australia 5. Coercion and Women Offenders 6. Victimisation and Governance: Gender-Responsive Discourses and Correctional Practice 7. Working with Women Offenders in the Community: A View from England and Wales 8. Beyond Youth Justice: Working with Girls and Young Women who Offend 9. Breaking the Cycle: Addressing Cultural Difference in Rehabilitation Programs 10. Women, Drugs and Community Interventions 11. Managing Risk in the Community: How Gender Matters 12. Who Cares? Fostering Networks and Relationships in Prison and Beyond 13. Mentoring 14. Community Mentoring in the United States: An Evaluation of the Rhode Island Women's Mentoring Program 15. Maintaining and Restoring Family for Women Prisoners and their Children 16. Connecting to the Community: A Case Study in Women's Resettlement Needs and Experiences 17. Working with Women Offenders in the Community: What Works?