Traditional programming in female correctional facilities have been deemed ineffective since most were structured to fit men's needs.
For example, the Indiana Women's Prison tried to incorporate chair caning, paper-boxing making, glove stitching, and laundry, which, with the exception of the latter, were deemed "financially disappointing.
"[5] Academic classes were difficult to maintain due to staff and funding shortages, and differences in education levels among the women.
[5] At another institution in Framingham, Massachusetts, administrators implemented an indenture system, a conditional early release program that allowed women to serve as domestic servants in nearby homes located on the country side, which proved to be rather successful with a less than nine percent recidivism rate for those who participated in the program.
[5] Despite efforts to equip female inmates with remunerative skills, programming throughout the early and mid-1900s continued to consist of limited educational and vocational opportunities.
[11] One study conducted in California prisons found that nearly 80% of women reported some form of physical and/or sexual abuse followed by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
[6] The emphasis on gender-specific programming was further substantiated by the fact that a greater proportion of women than men were serving sentences for drug-related offenses during this period of time.
[13] In highlighting the relationship between women's drug use to other issues such as poverty, abuse, race and gender inequalities, studies acknowledged the ineffectiveness of isolated, treatment options.
Some of most common characteristics included female-only environments, promotion of female empowerment, skill building, mutual exchange, and relational orientation.
[6][11][13] One major effort designed to achieve gender-specific substance abuse treatment include the implementation and monitoring of therapeutic communities (TCs), which are characterized by the National Institute for Drug Abuse as "drug-free residential settings that use a hierarchical model with treatment stages that reflect increased levels of personal and social responsibility".
[16] Funding for educational programming included federal grants, private donors, as well as state financial aid, as seen in North Carolina and California.
Currently, most female correctional facilities contain a range of evidence-based programming for substance abuse that have been shown to both reduce recidivism, and promote positive social behavior.
In 2003, at least six states had barred ex-offenders from public employment, prohibiting them opportunities in approximately 350 higher-skilled occupations, thus restricting women to low-paying jobs upon reentry.
More specifically, the program must train women in widely available fields experiencing shortages, and must in an area that will provide a living wage.
For example, a temporary plumbing maintenance program was implemented throughout correctional facilities in New York State during the early 2000s, a time where plumbers were of relatively high demand.
Studies of women in state correctional facilities reveal a positive relationship between educational level and probability of employment.
[16] Some prisons have developed relationships with local community colleges to form postsecondary correctional education (PSCE) programs.