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We sponsor research to bring about change in how women and girls are dealt with in the criminal justice system

Our research listings

Research Papers and Briefings

At the end of their year on the Griffins Society Fellowship Programme, Fellows produce a 10,000 word Research Paper on their findings. Research Papers are available here to view or download as a PDF (the size of each file is given).  

For all papers you will find the REPORT IN FULL, and also a single-page ABSTRACT.  For more recent papers, an EXECUTIVE SUMMARY is also available.

Fellows' research can be freely copied and distributed as long as the author and the Griffins Society are credited.

 

'What Works' with women who offend: A service user's perspective. Exploring the synthesis between what women want and what women get

Author: Rebecca Clarke
Published: 2004

The aim of this project was to explore the relationship between what women in the criminal justice system want and need to desist from further offending, and what criminal
justice and other associated agencies provide. A review of the literature exploring these issues, together with the information generated from the women’s accounts of their experiences, form the evidence contained in the full report.

Download PDF - 88.82 KB

Life on Life Licence: a follow-up to report 2002/01 - Resettlement issues facing female lifers

Author: Rachel Chapman
Published: 2004

Griffins Research Paper 2002/01 is the report of a study of the resettlement issues facing women lifers before release. This follow-up research focussed on the women’s actual experience of release:
• to explore whether the women had been adequately prepared for release and whether they received sufficient support to assist with their reintegration into the community; and
• to consider whether the reality of release corresponded with the women’s expectations before release.

Download PDF - 87.47 KB

Self-employment opportunities for female ex-offenders

Author: Juliet Dempster
Published: 2004

This purpose of the study was to investigate and identify the self-employment opportunities available for female offenders on release from custody and in the community. The research involved interviews with women in custody, business support organisations, financial institutions and entrepreneurial women who have had experience of the
criminal justice system. A key aim of the research was to produce information about self-employment in a guidebook format for the use of women in custody and the community — the ‘Self-employment Guidebook’.

Download PDF - 88.23 KB

Supporting People: Good news for women ex-prisoners?

Author: Sally Malin
Published: 2004

The importance of housing in the resettlement of women ex-offenders is well established. Supporting People (SP) is a UK government programme which took effect in April 2003, bringing together at local authority level the main partners of housing, health, social services and probation to plan strategically and commission services which are cost effective, reliable, transparent and needs-led. This research project carried out between October 2003 and December 2004 sought, through interviews and document
review, to explore the early impact of SP at both national and local levels on planning and provision for women ex-offenders. A comparative perspective was secured by review of two community based ex-offender initiatives outside the UK.

Download PDF - 88.99 KB