The presence of female offenders in the correctional population within the criminal justice system has been expanding at a rate that far outweighs their male counterparts. Historically, correctional institutions are designed to serve predominately male offender populations. Agencies in the community have not addressed the multifaceted problems that form the context for women’s criminal behavior. Women are released from correctional supervision without tools to help them live responsibly in the community. Like their male counterparts, most female offenders are poor, under-educated, unemployed and unskilled. However, women enter the criminal justice system with unique needs that distinguish them from male offenders. Addiction, poverty, unemployment, physical and mental illness, sexual abuse and violence often traps women in a cycle of hopelessness and crime. The separation caused by incarceration has a damaging effect on children of female prisoners, who often become the innocent victims of the criminal justice system. Participants will identify key strategies and emerging issues of female offenders and the family that is useful in developing effective programming to address the unique and challenging needs of women offenders. Emphasis will be placed on the evaluation of management and risk reduction strategies that consider the different characteristics of female offenders. OBJECTIVES: Participants will: Identify, evaluate and complete a highly structured case-management plan for women with focus on the family unit and issues affecting a woman's situation including alcoholism/addiction, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and relationships; Examine evidenced based risk assessments/provide an overview of unique needs of women offenders; Identify programs or approaches for supervision of female offenders in the community and through the correctional setting; and Discuss women as victims of domestic violence convicted of assault on abusers, sexual abuse survivors, pregnant women and women with children.