This article deals with the problems related to the gender-sensitive approach while working with convicted women and the peculiarities of organizing of socio-psychological diagnosis and correction work concerning convicted women at different stages of serving a criminal sentence.

Women’s criminality is a separate topic for research because of its originality and specifics of the structure of the crimes committed, its impact on society, its ethical and psychological atmosphere, and other components. The similar situation reflects the relative increase in crimes committed by women and an enhancement of their part in the structure of the total number of crimes.

On this basis, a version of the questionnaire “Socio-psychological examination of readiness for changes” was developed. This questionnaire provides a comprehensive analysis of convict’s personality, taking into account social and psychological manifestations and peculiarities.

Received data also give an opportunity to plan the work concerning preparing for changes in such a way that help to minimize the risk of relapse as much as possible. To identify and to classify the needs, personal characteristics and cognitive and behavioral problems that determine an unlawful behavior. To formulate directions for individual and group work concerning preparing for changes.

The results will help the staff of all interested services and organizations to develop a program (individually for each convict) aimed at correcting the problems identified during the proposed system of assessment, in order to prepare convicts for life at will.

Thus, the work concerning preparing for changes will become more effective if we begin with solving the deep personal problems and only then we gradually move on to the practice of learning some specific skills.

Prospects for further research are that the work on reducing the level of recidivism among women and preparing for change will become more effective if we begin with the solution of deep personal problems and only then we will gradually move on to the practice of learning specific skills.

Key words: gender-oriented approach, convicted women, correctional work, socio-psychological readiness, mechanisms of psychological protection

References

1. Seriabriakova, V. A. (1975), Criminality among women as an object of criminological studying. Moskow, pp. 30–31.
2. Miroshnychenko, O. M. (2004), “Problems of woman’s self-actualization in humanistic psychology”. Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Psychology. Issue 20. рр. 36–38.
3. Psychological correction of convicted women (2003) / under ed. of Mitrushichev, M. A., Dmitriyenko, L. V. and Yenkov, I. I., Vladivostok, 165 p.