The STEP program is designed to ease female offenders’ reentry into the community and is offered in New York City to soon-to-be-released and recently released female offenders. The dual empowerment model of the STEP program emphasizes individual empowerment, as well as community empowerment, by helping women take control over their own lives. The goal of the STEP program, which was originally designed for men, is to “empower women to live independent and productive lives in the community.” The focus is on teaching female offenders decisionmaking and other skills that will enable them to reconstruct their lives and relationships to avoid future offending behavior. The authors argue that this type of comprehensive approach to treatment provides the long-term support necessary for keeping women crime-free. The chapter opens with a discussion about the unique risk factors involved in African-American female criminality and the special needs of African-American female offenders. Some of the challenges facing African-American women include decreased economic opportunities, the absence of suitable male partners, and their unequal experience of abuse. Next, a profile of African-American women who are incarcerated is presented and reveals that African-American female inmates tend to be younger and less educated than their White counterparts. They are also more likely to have been raised without a father figure and to be on welfare or employed in a low-skill, low-paying job. The STEP system recognizes the unique and often overwhelming obstacles faced by African-American female offenders and offers a collaborative approach to providing necessary support, such as job placement services and counseling. The various components of STEP encompass all aspects of rehabilitative service, such as mental health, employment, education, and social service and, thus, provide the greatest potential for reducing recidivism among this group of offenders. References