Women offenders who served community sentences: A view from Catalonia
| Author | Cristina Vasilescu |
| DOI | 10.1177/20662203211017061 |
| Published date | 01 August 2021 |
| Date | 01 August 2021 |
| Subject Matter | Original Articles |
2021, Vol. 13(2) 178 –198
https://doi.org/10.1177/20662203211017061
European Journal of Probation
© The Author(s) 2021
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DOI: 10.1177/20662203211017061
journals.sagepub.com/home/ejp
Women offenders who served
community sentences: A view
from Catalonia
Cristina Vasilescu
University of Girona, Spain
Abstract
Unlike in other jurisdictions, in Catalonia there has been no specific evaluation of
women’s experiences regarding community sentences. The purpose of this article is to
contribute to filling this gap by conducting qualitative research in Barcelona and Girona
to analyse the experiences of women serving community sentences. To this end, 23
semi-structured interviews with women offenders are analysed. The results follow
the trend found in research conducted in other jurisdictions and show that women
have multiple issues, responsibilities and needs in comparison with men, and what
works with female offenders is different from what works with male offenders with
regard to supervision style, relationship with professionals and unpaid work or therapy
environments. The findings make it possible to identify alternative responses that offer
appropriate support and interventions to address women’s underlying problems and
reduce reoffending. The article underscores the importance of listening to women’s
voices in order to achieve a gender-sensitive criminal justice system.
Keywords
Community sentences, gender studies, probation system, what works, women
offenders
Introduction
In Spain, the experiences of women offenders did not begin to be researched until the
21st century, and in any case, research has focused mainly on female prisoners. As in
other countries, the main conclusion is that women prisoners face discrimination in an
androcentric prison system, and the impact of the prison sentence is disproportionate
because of the characteristics and needs of women compared to those of male prisoners
(Almeda, 2003; Almeda and Bodelón, 2007; Cervelló, 2006; Larrauri, 1992, 1994;
Corresponding author:
Cristina Vasilescu, University of Girona, Girona, Spain. Carrer Universitat de Girona, Nº 12, 17071, Campus
Montilivi.
Email: cristina.vasilescu@udg.edu
1017061
EJP0010.1177/20662203211017061European Journal of ProbationVasilescu
2021
Original
Article
Vasilescu 179
2 European Journal of Probation 00(0)
Maqueda, 2014; Navarro, 2018; Yagüe, 2007). The evidence of these harmful effects has
led to the promotion of greater use of community sentences1 for women offenders (UN
Bangkok Rules, 2011). Furthermore, the ‘what works with women offenders’ interna-
tional literature concludes that community sentences should be responsive to the needs
of women and other specific groups in order to achieve effective rehabilitation (Covington
and Bloom, 2003, 2006; Gelsthorpe, 2020; Gelsthorpe et al., 2007).
However, unlike in Anglo-Saxon countries (see Malloch and McIvor, 2013; Sheehan
et al., 2007, 2011), in our geographic field of study there is little information on the experi-
ences of women serving community sentences and little research that places gender at the
centre of criminological research on community-based interventions.
The aim of this article is to contribute to filling this gap through the voice and experi-
ences of women offenders. Qualitative research was carried out in Barcelona and Girona
to analyse the experiences of women serving community sentences and their needs. To
achieve this aim, 23 semi-structured interviews with women offenders were analysed.
The article is divided into four parts. First, a brief literature review is presented.
Second, the study is contextualised with reference to the Catalan Probation System and
how it works. Third, the methodology section provides a brief explanation of the context
of the interviews, the technique employed and the way in which the interviewees were
selected. Fourth, the findings are presented. This section is divided into the following: (a)
the women’s perception of community sentences and (b) the women’s relationship with
probation officers and other professionals. Finally, the findings in relation to the interna-
tional literature and steps for future research are discussed.
A brief literature review
As mentioned earlier, in our jurisdiction, studies on women offenders are mostly based
on the situation of women serving prison sentences. The main conclusion of these studies
is that it is necessary to promote the use of community sentences for a large proportion
of women offenders for a number of reasons (e.g. Almeda and Bodelón, 2007; Larrauri,
1992, 1994; Maqueda, 2014; Navarro, 2018; Yagüe, 2007).
Among the arguments, the following stand out: (a) the discriminatory situation of
women in prison due to inferior prison institutions in terms of quality and quantity, sexist
and stereotyped prison treatment, and limited occupational options; (b) the inappropriate
use of prison for a large proportion of women prisoners as the crimes they commit do not
generally pose a significant public risk, women generally commit fewer crimes and they
reoffend less than men; and (c) the specific circumstances of women prisoners, such as
the disproportionate number of women who have been victims of domestic violence,
their social and economic marginalisation, mental health problems and drug use, and
their multiple domestic and caring burdens.
It is therefore concluded that, given these issues, the use of community sentences
would be more beneficial for women. However, the situation of women serving com-
munity sentences has not been explored, with the exception of the recent research within
which this article is framed (Vasilescu, 2020).
Nevertheless, studies on the experiences of women sentenced to community sanctions
have proliferated rapidly in other countries (e.g. Gelsthorpe et al., 2007; Malloch and
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