This review demonstrates that women who encounter the Australian criminal justice system include some of the most disadvantaged and mentally unwell people in society, particularly Aboriginal women. Women in custody are a heterogeneous group and have different psychosocial needs when compared to male prisoners.
Conclusion
The approaches to female offending must address their significant psychosocial and mental health issues at every point of contact with the criminal justice system, be culturally informed and specifically address Indigenous overrepresentation.
Oot HayesM. The life pattern of incarcerated women: the complex and interwoven lives of trauma, mental illness, and substance abuse. J Forensic Nurs2015; 11(4): 214–222.
2.
FairHWalmsleyR. Institute for crime and justice policy research. World female imprisonment list 5th edition. London, UK: Technical Report, 2022 (accessed 45 January 2024. World female imprisonment list 5th edition.pdf (prisonstudies.org)
3.
OoiEJ. Recent trends in the NSW female prison population. Crime and justice statistics bureau brief. Parramatta: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2018, p. 130.
BrowneCKorobanovaDYeeN, et al.The prevalence of self-reported mental illness among those imprisoned in New South Wales across three health surveys from 2001 to 2015. Aust NZ J Psychiatry2022; 57(4): 550–561.
6.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2022). National study of mental health and wellbeing. Australia: ABS, 2022. National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-2022 | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au) (accessed 5 January 2024).
7.
Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network. 2015 Network patient health survey report. Justice health and forensic mental health network. Sydney, NSW: Report for Justice Health NSW 2017, 2017.
8.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Mental health services in Australia. Australia: Mental Health Services - Mental Health - AIHW, 2023 (accessed 5 January 2024).
9.
FedockGCovingtonS. The Sage Encyclopaedia of Criminal Psychology. Female violent offending, theoretical models. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications Inc., 2019.
10.
BabcockJCMillerSASiardC. Toward a typology of abusive women: differences between partner-only and generally violent women in the use of violence. Psychol Women Q2003; 27: 153–161.
11.
FoxJMBrookMHeilbronnerRL, et al.Neuropsychological and criminological features of female homicide offenders. J Forensic Sci2019; 64(2): 460–467.
12.
SpinelliMG. Maternal infanticide associated with mental illness: prevention and the promise of saved lives. Review. Am J Psychiatr2004; 161(9): 1548–1557.
13.
MonzonCLanza di ScaleaT. Postpartum psychosis: updates and clinical issues. Psychiatr Times2014; 31: 1.
14.
MeyerCLSpinelliMG. Medical and legal dilemmas of postpartum psychiatric disorders. In: Infanticide: psychosocial and legal perspectives on mothers who kill. Washington: American Psychiatric Pub, 2003.
15.
Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network. Forensic mental health patient survey report 2016. Malabar, Sydney: Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, 2018.
16.
BeckNCHammerJHRobbinsS, et al.Highly aggressive women in a forensic psychiatric hospital. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law2017; 45(1): 17–24.
17.
PisaniASinclairKRahmanS. Trends in the Aboriginal female adult custodial population in NSW, March 2013 to February 2021. Parramatta: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2022; 161.
18.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. Corrective services, Australia. Australia: ABS, 2023. Corrective Services, Australia, September Quarter 2023 Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au)
RaeN. The mental health outcomes for those diverted under section 33 of the mental health cognitive impairment and forensic provisions act in NSW from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2015. PhD Thesis. Kensington: University New South Wales, 2021.
21.
Mental Health Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020(NSW).
22.
YinSReaNKorobanovaD, et al.Mentally ill offenders eligible for diversion at local court in New South Wales (NSW), Australia: factors associated with initially successful diversion. J Forensic Psychiatr Psychol2018; 29: 705–716.
23.
ScottDAMcGillowaySDempsterM, et al.Effectiveness of criminal justice liaison and diversion services for offenders with mental disorders: a review. Psychiatr Serv: A Journal of the American Psychiatric Association2013; 64: 843–849.
24.
LoongDBonatoSBarnsleyJ, et al.The effectiveness of mental health courts in reducing recidivism and police contact: a systematic review. Community Ment Health J2019; 55(7): 1073–1098.
25.
ForresterAHopkinGBryantL, et al.Alternatives to custodial remand for women in the criminal justice system: a multi-sector approach. Crim Behav Ment Health2020; 30(2-3): 68–78.
26.
Corrective Services NSW. Strategic programs to reduce reoffending. Sydney: Corrective Services NSW, 2023 (accessed 5 January 2024).Strategic programs to reduce reoffending (nsw.gov.au)
27.
KariminiaALawMButlerT, et al.Suicide risk among recently released prisoners in NSW, Australia. Medical J Australia2007; 187: 387–390.
28.
DeanKSinghSSoonYL. Decriminalizing severe mental illness by reducing risk of contact with the criminal justice system, including for forensic patients. CNS Spectr2020; 25(5): 687–700.
