Training, educational and therapeutic programs do not meet the needs of the women in Canada's prisons. Although it is clear the programs are not comparable in quantity, quality or variety to those provided to federally sentenced men, CAEFS believes it is not useful to make simple comparisons between programs for men vs programs for women. Instead, the particular needs and interests of women prisoners must be examined to ensure substantial equality, and allow women prisoners to progress toward a successful re-integration into society.
Programs that should prepare women for meaningful work, are virtually non-existent. In many cases, the emphasis is on traditional "female" skills, cooking, cleaning, and sewing. Where promising programs do exist, enrollment is often very limited or the equipment and training skills taught are outdated. For examples of programs that are not working see: CAEFS Submission on Programming (PDF)
The limited access to job training and educational programs directly interferes with the ability of women to meet the terms of their "correctional treatment plan". As a result they frequently experience delays in obtaining all forms of conditional release, including parole.
For women with
disabilities, there are even fewer training programs geared to their
needs. Access to therapeutic counseling is very limited. Moreover there
is a coercive nature to some of the therapeutic treatment offered. See CAEFS
Submission (PDF) and DAWN (PDF)
Many Aboriginal women have limited access to programs and services of any kind, let alone programs that meet their cultural needs. The over-representation of Aboriginal women in maximum security means even fewer get to access meaningful programs. CAEFS Response to CHRC Consultation (PDF)