Forensic mental health issues for women in contact with the criminal justice system.

Objective: This review demonstrates that women who encounter the Australian criminal justice system include some of the most disadvantaged and mentally unwell people in society, particularly Aboriginal women. Women in custody are a heterogeneous group and have different psychosocial needs when compared to male prisoners.

Conclusions: The approaches to female offending must address their significant psychosocial and mental health issues at every point of contact with the criminal justice system, be culturally informed and specifically address Indigenous overrepresentation.