Correctional programs for federally-sentenced women

The Women’s Engagement Program (WEP) and Indigenous Women Engagement Program (IWEP) are low-intensity, introductory programs. CSC delivers them as a readiness program for all women admitted into a federal institution. The goals of the programs are to motivate participants to change and to introduce all of the integrated skills which are used throughout the Continuum of Care in WOCP and the Circle of Care in IWOCP.

The engagement programs focus on:

• welcoming women to the institutional community
• engaging them in their own rehabilitation, and
• raising their awareness of problematic behaviours linked to crime

Indigenous and non-Indigenous federally-sentenced women learn:

• a variety of integrated skills, which encompass strategies for change
• how to manage their emotions, set goals, and problem solve
• how to communicate with others

Finally, the program introduces the concept of the self-management plan (in the WEP) and healing plan (in the IWEP).

The WEP and IWEP targets all federally-sentenced women and are a prerequisite for all subsequent correctional programming. They have a total of 12 sessions. The IWEP includes a strong link to culture and Elder involvement.

The Women Offender Moderate Intensity Program (WO-MIP) and Indigenous Women Offender Moderate Intensity Program (IWO-MIP) build on the knowledge gained in WEP and IWEP. CSC encourages women to:

• take part in their own rehabilitation
• focus on changing behaviours and
• work towards short- and long-term goals

The programs teach the skills they need to address their problematic behaviours. Indigenous and non-Indigenous federally-sentenced women learn and practice, amongst other skills:

• emotion management
• problem-solving
• conflict resolution
• communication skills

They learn the importance of positive and healthy relationships. Women continue to develop their self-management plan or healing plan, which include skills and strategies to help them adopt a positive lifestyle.

Other goals of the IWO-MIP are the:

• development of a positive personal and cultural identity, and
• empowerment of Indigenous federally-sentenced women

The WO-MIP has 40 group sessions plus 5 individual sessions. The IWO-MIP has 44 group sessions, 4 individual sessions and Elder involvement.

The Women Offender High Intensity Program (WO-HIP) and the Indigenous Women Offender High Intensity Program (IWO-HIP) are for women CSC assesses as having a high risk of reoffending.

The programs build on the WO-MIP and IWO-MIP. Women assessed as high risk complete the moderate intensity program before taking the high intensity program. The focus is on practicing and developing the skills and strategies learned in previous programs. To address problematic behaviour linked to crime, the women continue to learn and practice, amongst other skills:

• emotion management
• problem-solving
• conflict resolution
• communication skills

The program emphasizes the importance of positive and healthy relationships. The women continue developing their self-management plan or healing plan, which includes skills and strategies to help them adopt a positive lifestyle.

Other goals of the IWO-MIP are the:

• development of a positive personal and cultural identity, and
• empowerment of Indigenous federally sentenced women

The WO-HIP has 52 group sessions and 5 individual sessions. The IWO-HIP has 58 group sessions, 4 individual sessions and Elder involvement.

The Women Offender Self-Management Program (WO-SMP) and Indigenous Women Offender Self-Management Program (IWO-SMP) supports women as they continue to make and maintain changes in their lives. It is the final program in the continuum of care and the circle of care.

The programs focus on:

• reinforcing strengths and coping strategies
• increasing self-awareness
• setting goals
• solving problems
• developing, revising and implementing self-management plan and healing plan

The Self Management programs are offered both in the institution and community.

In the institution, the self management program serves as a refresher to the moderate or high women’s programs for women who are struggling with skill application within the reality of an institutional setting. 

In the community, the program serves as a refresher program and continues to support the women after they leave the institution. Women without any pre-requisite programming may also engage in WO-SMP or IWO-SMP in the community if an assessment indicates that it is required. The maintenance programs have a total of 12 weekly sessions.

The Women’s Sex Offender Program (WSOP) targets women who:

• have offended sexually, and
• are assessed as having a moderate or high risk to reoffend

A psychologist completes a psychological risk assessment for each woman.

The program:

• focuses on improving women's ability to use skills and coping strategies
• provides opportunities to practice these abilities as they address:
  • their sexual offending
  • other problematic behaviours linked to crime

The program takes a holistic approach. It considers sexual offending and problematic behaviour in conjunction with other problem areas faced by women who sexually offend, including:

• violence
• substance use
• trauma
• relationship issues

The program:

• has a total of 59 sessions
• is delivered by a single facilitator
• accommodates groups of up to 10 participants
• has up to 6 sessions per week

Before taking the WSOP, women who have offended sexually and are at high risk to reoffend must complete either:

• WOCP Moderate Intensity Program or
• WOCP Moderate Intensity Program

The Women's Modular Intervention is specialized for women living in secure units who are not ready to participate in other correctional programs. The goal of the program is for women to develop behaviours that lead to pro-social outcomes. The program consists of 15 separate modules. CSC designed 5 modules specifically for Indigenous women. There is:

• an initial interview
• a motivation for change session, and
• individual sessions after each module

The program allows women to address their specific need areas. They:

• make healing or self-management plans, and
• complete only the modules identified as linked to their specific risk factors

Typically, each module has 4 one-hour sessions. The modules can be delivered to small groups or on an individual basis.