Gender in the Criminal Justice System: Alternatives to Incarceration for Drug-Related Offenses

Data

Status

Active

Start

2018

Implementation

Social Networks

Threads: @CICAD_OEA

Since 2000, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of women deprived of their liberty in Latin America and the Caribbean, often for drug-related offenses.

Traditionally, however, few of the responses or interventions that tackle the consequences of drugs include tangible components and solutions that address gender imbalances in access to justice and services and other issues that may impact individuals differentially based on their gender.

Through the “Gender in the Criminal Justice System” project, in collaboration with the Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), the Executive Secretariat of CICAD seeks to generate data, raise awareness, and build capacity to promote the design and implementation of gender-sensitive alternatives to incarceration (ATI) programs and policies in OAS Member States.

It is expected that ATI policies and programs that consider the particular gender-based circumstances and needs of individuals (including those of persons with non-conforming sexual orientations and gender identities) will be more effective and contribute to better rehabilitation outcomes, as well as lower incarceration and recidivism, especially in women.

Objectives

Increase awareness and understanding of the gender dimensions of drug-related crime and criminal justice.
Generate data and knowledge to understand how justice systems incorporate a gender perspective when offering ATIs for drug-related offenses.
Identify and disseminate good practices for the incorporation of the gender perspective into ATI, legislation, policies, and programs.
Support the design and implementation of gender-sensitive ATI policies and programs for drug-related offenses.
Promote inter-institutional coordination, and coordination with civil society organizations and the academic sector for the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of ATIs that include a gender perspective.

Activities

Develop research methodologies and carry out studies to inform and support the design of ATI policies or programs with a gender perspective.
Sensitize and train personnel in criminal justice, health and social services institutions on the gender dimensions of drug-related offenses.
Develop guides and documents to disseminate good practices for the incorporation of the gender perspective in the design and implementation of ATI policies or programs.
Support the design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of pilot initiatives in the member states on gender, criminal justice, and ATIs for drug-related offenses.

More Results

Results

Study reports developed in five member states on gender, criminal justice, and alternatives to incarceration.

First-hand data collection from more than 700 justice-involved persons.

More than 220 policymakers and operators in the criminal justice, health and social services systems sensitized and/or trained.

Trainings on the importance of incorporating the gender perspective in criminal justice and ATI policies and programs for drug-related offenses.

Compendium of promising practices for gender mainstreaming in ATIs for drug-related offenses developed.

Beneficiary Countries