FOCUS on women: Program evaluation of a pilot probation and primary care transitions clinic collaboration

Gender-specific probation programs are needed for rising numbers of women on probation, as women's paths to probation differ from men's and are not as frequently addressed. Substance use, mental illness, health disparities, and barriers to treatment can contribute to women clients' unsuccessful completion of probation. The current study describes a process evaluation of the pilot Female Offenders Can Ultimately Succeed (FOCUS) program, which aimed to meet women probation clients' complex needs and improve their probation outcomes. Two women FOCUS Probation Officers had smaller-than-typical caseloads of 132 Medium- to Greatest-Risk women clients and received ongoing training in motivational and trauma-specific supervision strategies. To facilitate linkage to all needed treatment and social services, clients were referred to a primary care Transitions Clinic. Comparing non-FOCUS to FOCUS women clients with Violations of Probation, FOCUS clients had more successful completions of probation (higher non-punitive Restorations of Probation and lower punitive Revocations of Probation). At the Transitions Clinic, 52% of FOCUS clients received treatment. FOCUS clients and stakeholders provided narrative feedback reflecting a range of experiences in FOCUS, guiding future program implementation efforts. Promising outcomes from FOCUS demonstrate the potential of theory-based supervision and probation-medical collaboration to facilitate women clients' success in probation.