Women Offenders – “DC Public Safety”

Welcome to DC Public Safety – radio and television shows on crime, criminal offenders and the criminal justice system.

This program celebrates five years of “DC Public Safety” television.

“Women Offenders” features discussions with a policy maker within the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency and the Director of Our Place D.C. (one of the most comprehensive programs for women offenders in the country). The second half features a CSOSA employee who runs groups for women offenders and a participant currently under CSOSA supervision.

Between 2007 and 2010, the number of women on CSOSA’S daily caseload increased eight percent. Participants have higher rates of involvement in substance abuse, mental health issues and histories of sexual victimization. Approximately 50 percent of female offenders report having been evaluated, diagnosed or treated for mental health issues.

CSOSA is currently reorganizing operations to better supervise and provide programs for female offenders. Teams of Community Supervision Officers (know elsewhere as parole and probation agents) have received gender specific training. Treatment groups for women offenders are expanding. A new day reporting center has been created. Partnerships with groups such as Our Place D.C. have been expanded.

The production attempts to describe the increase of females under CSOSA supervision (and throughout the nation) and the steps employed to address the issue.

CSOSA is also reorganizing agency operations to better supervise high-risk offenders.

Guests for this program:

Participants-first segment:

• Dr. Debra Kafami, Executive Assistant, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency
• Ashley McSwain, MSW, MSOD, Executive Director, Our Place DC

Participants-second segment:

• Dr. Willa Butler, Group Facilitator, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency
• Talynthia Jones, an offender on Dr. Butler’s caseload.

The show is packed with video footage to enhance the viewing experience.

See http://media.csosa.gov for our radio shows, blog and transcripts.

Transcript available at http://media.csosa.gov/podcast/transcripts/

We welcome your comments or suggestions at leonard.sipes@csosa.gov or at Twitter at http://twitter.com/lensipes.

The host is Leonard Sipes. The producer is Timothy Barnes.