This purpose of the study was to investigate and identify the self-employment opportunities available for female offenders on release from custody and in the community. The research involved interviews with women in custody, business support organisations, financial institutions and entrepreneurial women who have had experience of the
criminal justice system. A key aim of the research was to produce information about self-employment in a guidebook format for the use of women in custody and the community — the ‘Self-employment Guidebook’.