This briefing provides a concise and informative explanation of the need to focus on reducing the imprisonment of women in England and Wales. It contains statistics on the number of women imprisoned, the characteristics of women in prison and the drivers to their offending, as well as information about community-based services and solutions. The data shows that there were 3,206 women in prison on Friday 29 July 2022. 97 women have died in prison in England and Wales since 2011. 37 of these deaths were self-inflicted. There was a 7% increase in the rate of self-harm incidents in women's prisons in the year to March 2022. 76% of women in prison report problems with their mental health.6 It is estimated that nearly 60% of women who offend have experienced domestic abuse. An estimated 17,000 children are affected by maternal imprisonment each year.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This briefing provides a concise and informative explanation of the need to focus on reducing the imprisonment of women in England and Wales. It contains statistics on the number of women imprisoned, the characteristics of women in prison and the drivers to their offending, as well as information about community-based services and solutions. The data shows that there were 3,206 women in prison on Friday 29 July 2022. 97 women have died in prison in England and Wales since 2011. 37 of these deaths were self-inflicted. There was a 7% increase in the rate of self-harm incidents in women's prisons in the year to March 2022. 76% of women in prison report problems with their mental health.6 It is estimated that nearly 60% of women who offend have experienced domestic abuse. An estimated 17,000 children are affected by maternal imprisonment each year.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This briefing has been produced in collaboration with 16 women serving indeterminate sentences as part of the Prison Reform Trust’s Building Futures programme, a five-year project to explore the experiences of people who will spend 10 or more years in custody. It is the first in a series which will aim to shed light on the distinct experiences of these often ‘invisible women’ serving long determinate and indeterminate sentences. The briefing highlights the far-reaching consequences of a lack of specialist, gender-specific, trauma informed provision for these women. Most women serving long prison sentences will have extensive histories of trauma and are often victims as well as perpetrators. Three core issues are highlighted: the impact of previous trauma – women in prison typically have extensive histories of trauma, substance misuse issues and mental health difficulties; familial relationships and reproductive capacity – losing contact with children is one of the most distressing elements of imprisonment for women serving sentences of all lengths, but women serving long sentences are likely to be impacted in particularly stark ways; and progression support – for anyone serving an indeterminate sentence, uncertainty and frustration commonly come to define their time in prison. Feelings of powerlessness can translate into hopelessness and helplessness for women who perceive they lack control in their lives and cannot plan for the future.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This briefing has been produced in collaboration with 16 women serving indeterminate sentences as part of the Prison Reform Trust’s Building Futures programme, a five-year project to explore the experiences of people who will spend 10 or more years in custody. It is the first in a series which will aim to shed light on the distinct experiences of these often ‘invisible women’ serving long determinate and indeterminate sentences. The briefing highlights the far-reaching consequences of a lack of specialist, gender-specific, trauma informed provision for these women. Most women serving long prison sentences will have extensive histories of trauma and are often victims as well as perpetrators. Three core issues are highlighted: the impact of previous trauma – women in prison typically have extensive histories of trauma, substance misuse issues and mental health difficulties; familial relationships and reproductive capacity – losing contact with children is one of the most distressing elements of imprisonment for women serving sentences of all lengths, but women serving long sentences are likely to be impacted in particularly stark ways; and progression support – for anyone serving an indeterminate sentence, uncertainty and frustration commonly come to define their time in prison. Feelings of powerlessness can translate into hopelessness and helplessness for women who perceive they lack control in their lives and cannot plan for the future.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
women, prisons, sentences, criminal justice, prison service, access to services, gender, user views;
This report, published by the PrisonReformTrust and Working Chance, provides an overview of the evidence on employment opportunities and barriers for women who have been in contact with the criminal justice system. It considers the policy context and provides examples of good practice which show what can be achieved when women are given support to access education, training and sustain
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report, published by the PrisonReformTrust and Working Chance, provides an overview of the evidence on employment opportunities and barriers for women who have been in contact with the criminal justice system. It considers the policy context and provides examples of good practice which show what can be achieved when women are given support to access education, training and sustain employment. Drawing on the experiences of women themselves and the organisations that support them, the report looks at current barriers to employment, work opportunities for women on community sentences, and support in prison for resettlement. The report makes recommendations to government and to employers to improve employment outcomes for women in contact with the criminal justice system. It also includes a list of relevant organisations for England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report, collaboration between the PrisonReformTrust and KeyRing Living Support Networks, finds that women with learning disabilities are at risk of becoming drawn into the criminal justice system due to failures to recognise their disability and a lack of appropriate support. It draws on the experiences of 24 women with learning disabilities in contact with, or on the edges
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report, collaboration between the PrisonReformTrust and KeyRing Living Support Networks, finds that women with learning disabilities are at risk of becoming drawn into the criminal justice system due to failures to recognise their disability and a lack of appropriate support. It draws on the experiences of 24 women with learning disabilities in contact with, or on the edges of, the criminal justice system; and practitioners working within criminal justice, social care, and women’s services. It also considers the legislative and policy frameworks that exist to help ensure women with learning disabilities get the support they need and which can help them avoid content with criminal justice services. In the research the women talked about their difficulties in accessing support when they needed it most, not understanding the implications of their behaviour and failure to comply with imposed sanctions; their histories as victims of violent and abusive behaviour; and enforced separation from their children. Other areas discussed included histories of drugs and addiction, access to housing The report makes ten recommendations to ensure that the needs of women with learning disabilities are recognised and met.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, women, criminal justice, user views, offenders, policy, access to services;
Sets out the findings of the Transforming Lives "What about me?" project, which examined the impact on children of a mother’s involvement in the criminal justice system. The research, which was a collaboration between the PrisonReformTrust and Families Outside, involved interviews and focus groups with women and children, as well as consultation with statutory and voluntary agencies
(Edited publisher abstract)
Sets out the findings of the Transforming Lives "What about me?" project, which examined the impact on children of a mother’s involvement in the criminal justice system. The research, which was a collaboration between the PrisonReformTrust and Families Outside, involved interviews and focus groups with women and children, as well as consultation with statutory and voluntary agencies. The findings show that children experience disruption to many aspects of their lives when a mother goes to prison - including to their housing, education, health, and well-being. It addition, they also experience grief, shame and stigma. The report presents findings across five key themes: that children with a mother in prison are invisible within systems that should protect them; the disruption that children face when a mother goes to prison; the stigma children feel as a result of their mother’s imprisonment; the barriers to support children experience; and that with the right support, children can be resilient and develop the skills to thrive. The report includes direct quotations from interviews and examples of good practice throughout. Recommendations include for child impact assessments to be conducted as soon as a parent enters the criminal justice system, the introduction of a presumption against short prison sentences of less than 12 months, and better investment in women’s community support, including women’s centres. Most of the recommendations could also be applied to improve outcomes for children whose fathers are in prison.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
criminal justice, mothers, prisoners, children, access to services, policy, childrens social care, good practice, parent-child relations, stigma, resilience;
This report discusses the links between women’s victimisation and their offending and makes recommendations that will help break the cycle. It informed by desk-based research; meetings with service providers, local authorities and criminal justice agencies across England and Wales; and focus groups with women who have experience of domestic abuse and offending. The report shows there are strong links between women’s experience of domestic and sexual abuse and coercive relationships, and their offending. This can lead to women becoming trapped in a cycle of victimisation and criminal activity. Their situation is often worsened by poverty, substance dependency or poor mental health. Imprisonment compounds their problems and has a severely detrimental impact on any dependent children. The report highlights the role the key agencies have to play in breaking the cycle of offending, including: central Government, the Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, legal defences for victims of domestic abuse who offend; and Courts, prisons and probation service. The report’s findings include: the need for guidance and training for all those involved in the criminal justice system; the importance of early intervention and joined up working; the need for more training for police on responding to women offenders affected by domestic abuse.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report discusses the links between women’s victimisation and their offending and makes recommendations that will help break the cycle. It informed by desk-based research; meetings with service providers, local authorities and criminal justice agencies across England and Wales; and focus groups with women who have experience of domestic abuse and offending. The report shows there are strong links between women’s experience of domestic and sexual abuse and coercive relationships, and their offending. This can lead to women becoming trapped in a cycle of victimisation and criminal activity. Their situation is often worsened by poverty, substance dependency or poor mental health. Imprisonment compounds their problems and has a severely detrimental impact on any dependent children. The report highlights the role the key agencies have to play in breaking the cycle of offending, including: central Government, the Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, legal defences for victims of domestic abuse who offend; and Courts, prisons and probation service. The report’s findings include: the need for guidance and training for all those involved in the criminal justice system; the importance of early intervention and joined up working; the need for more training for police on responding to women offenders affected by domestic abuse.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
women, domestic violence, offenders, user views, criminal justice, intervention, joint working, sentences, early intervention;
This report highlights the different experiences of women from minority ethnic groups in the criminal justice system in England and Wales, mainly in comparison to white British women but also in relation to men who are white British and men who are from minority ethnic groups. It also consider the experience and needs of Muslim women who may be subject to cultural pressures and prejudices. The report identifies a lack of criminal justice data and research which can make it difficult to identify the disparities experienced by women from minority ethnic groups. However, the evidence available shows that women from minority ethnic groups experience disadvantaged compared to white women in the criminal justice system. It reports that black and mixed ethnicity women are more than twice as likely as white women in the general population to be arrested. Black women are also more likely than other women to be remanded or sentenced to custody, and are 25 per cent more likely than white women to receive a custodial sentence following a conviction. The briefing makes recommendations to help ensure that women are not disadvantaged in their contact with criminal justice agencies because they are Black, Gypsy, Roma or Traveller, Asian, Muslim or from any other minority ethnic or religious group. It also calls for criminal justice agencies to collect and publish data disaggregated by gender, ethnicity and religion. The report also includes examples of good practice.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report highlights the different experiences of women from minority ethnic groups in the criminal justice system in England and Wales, mainly in comparison to white British women but also in relation to men who are white British and men who are from minority ethnic groups. It also consider the experience and needs of Muslim women who may be subject to cultural pressures and prejudices. The report identifies a lack of criminal justice data and research which can make it difficult to identify the disparities experienced by women from minority ethnic groups. However, the evidence available shows that women from minority ethnic groups experience disadvantaged compared to white women in the criminal justice system. It reports that black and mixed ethnicity women are more than twice as likely as white women in the general population to be arrested. Black women are also more likely than other women to be remanded or sentenced to custody, and are 25 per cent more likely than white women to receive a custodial sentence following a conviction. The briefing makes recommendations to help ensure that women are not disadvantaged in their contact with criminal justice agencies because they are Black, Gypsy, Roma or Traveller, Asian, Muslim or from any other minority ethnic or religious group. It also calls for criminal justice agencies to collect and publish data disaggregated by gender, ethnicity and religion. The report also includes examples of good practice.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
women, criminal justice, prisoners, racial discrimination, data collection, offenders, sentences, black and minority ethnic people;
Details the findings of the two-year action learning project Out for Good, based in HMP Brixton resettlement prison in south London. The project aimed to deliver practical opportunities and outcomes for prisoners particularly in the field of employment and training; and to develop ways in which prisons can build sustainable local networks to support resettlement. The report found that it was not the attitudes of employers but national prison policy and practice which was the main barrier preventing opportunities for work and training from being seized. Problems identified include poor coordination between different agencies; a lack of data on employment outcomes for prisoners; poorly defined targets for getting prisoners into sustainable employment; the impact of overcrowding on effective preparation for release; and a lack of opportunities for prisoners to work or volunteer in the community on release on temporary licence (ROTL). The report demonstrates that the potential to secure sustainable employment for prisoners before and after release is both great and going largely unrealised. Suggested key actions include: a step change in the use of ROTL for employment and education in the community prior to a prisoner’s release; a radical simplification of the commissioning and provision of overlapping services to help prisoners into employment; adequate resource for the governor of a prison to co-ordinate that provision and build relationships with the local labour market; a heavily weighted target for the sustained employment of prisoners after rather than on release; improved national systems for data collection and sharing on individual prisoners, saving time in prisons and making possible the routine measurement of achievement after release; and, fundamentally, a prison system in which overcrowding does not require prisoners to be held far from the communities – and jobs – to which it makes sense to release them.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Details the findings of the two-year action learning project Out for Good, based in HMP Brixton resettlement prison in south London. The project aimed to deliver practical opportunities and outcomes for prisoners particularly in the field of employment and training; and to develop ways in which prisons can build sustainable local networks to support resettlement. The report found that it was not the attitudes of employers but national prison policy and practice which was the main barrier preventing opportunities for work and training from being seized. Problems identified include poor coordination between different agencies; a lack of data on employment outcomes for prisoners; poorly defined targets for getting prisoners into sustainable employment; the impact of overcrowding on effective preparation for release; and a lack of opportunities for prisoners to work or volunteer in the community on release on temporary licence (ROTL). The report demonstrates that the potential to secure sustainable employment for prisoners before and after release is both great and going largely unrealised. Suggested key actions include: a step change in the use of ROTL for employment and education in the community prior to a prisoner’s release; a radical simplification of the commissioning and provision of overlapping services to help prisoners into employment; adequate resource for the governor of a prison to co-ordinate that provision and build relationships with the local labour market; a heavily weighted target for the sustained employment of prisoners after rather than on release; improved national systems for data collection and sharing on individual prisoners, saving time in prisons and making possible the routine measurement of achievement after release; and, fundamentally, a prison system in which overcrowding does not require prisoners to be held far from the communities – and jobs – to which it makes sense to release them.
(Edited publisher abstract)
PRISONREFORMTRUST, ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES, CENTRE FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Publisher:
PrisonReformTrust
Publication year:
2016
Pagination:
40
Place of publication:
London
This report outlines the important role local authorities can play in helping women with multiple needs in contact with, or on the edges of, the criminal justice system to get the support they need to stay out of trouble. It argues that local authorities are uniquely placed to work strategically with a number of organisations and agencies to ensure that the needs of women their local area are met. The report highlights four main approaches in which local authorities can help women with multiple needs to get better support. These cover: identifying women’s needs and building upon their strengths; providing, commissioning and convening services; leadership and partnership building; and monitoring local services. It provides examples of promising practice areas of: women centred working; prevention and early intervention; liaison and diversion services; community sentences; resettlement and rehabilitation; key workers and frontline staff and professionals; and training and workforce development. The report makes a number of recommendations for local authorities.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report outlines the important role local authorities can play in helping women with multiple needs in contact with, or on the edges of, the criminal justice system to get the support they need to stay out of trouble. It argues that local authorities are uniquely placed to work strategically with a number of organisations and agencies to ensure that the needs of women their local area are met. The report highlights four main approaches in which local authorities can help women with multiple needs to get better support. These cover: identifying women’s needs and building upon their strengths; providing, commissioning and convening services; leadership and partnership building; and monitoring local services. It provides examples of promising practice areas of: women centred working; prevention and early intervention; liaison and diversion services; community sentences; resettlement and rehabilitation; key workers and frontline staff and professionals; and training and workforce development. The report makes a number of recommendations for local authorities.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
local authorities, complex needs, criminal justice, early intervention, joint working, needs assessment, prevention, interagency cooperation, women, offenders;
Executive summary of an independent review to examine the reasons for, and find out how best to tackle, the over representation of children in care, or with experience of care, in the criminal justice system in England and Wales. The review, chaired by Lord Laming, included an analysis of data about looked after children in the criminal justice system from over 90 local authorities, an advisory panel of experts, including practitioners and young people with experiences of the care and criminal justice system; and over 220 written submissions and additional oral evidence sessions. It found that children in care are significantly over represented in the criminal justice system and in custody. Young people reported that frequent changes in who looks after them, where they live, where they go to school and who offers emotional and practical support can impact on their prospects. Some young people from minority ethnic backgrounds also felt they are subject to negative stereotyping on the grounds of their race and that their cultural needs are not consistently met by children’s social care services. Based on the views and evidence collected for the review, this summary report sets out practical actions to prevent children in care being drawn into the criminal justice system. Findings and recommendations are grouped under the following six outcomes: strong leadership at national and local level to drive a multi-agency approach to protecting children in care from criminalisation; early support for children and families at risk; good corporate parenting; responding to the needs of looked after children in minority; effective prevention, diversion and rehabilitation; and supporting young people leaving care. Good practice examples are included in the appendices.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Executive summary of an independent review to examine the reasons for, and find out how best to tackle, the over representation of children in care, or with experience of care, in the criminal justice system in England and Wales. The review, chaired by Lord Laming, included an analysis of data about looked after children in the criminal justice system from over 90 local authorities, an advisory panel of experts, including practitioners and young people with experiences of the care and criminal justice system; and over 220 written submissions and additional oral evidence sessions. It found that children in care are significantly over represented in the criminal justice system and in custody. Young people reported that frequent changes in who looks after them, where they live, where they go to school and who offers emotional and practical support can impact on their prospects. Some young people from minority ethnic backgrounds also felt they are subject to negative stereotyping on the grounds of their race and that their cultural needs are not consistently met by children’s social care services. Based on the views and evidence collected for the review, this summary report sets out practical actions to prevent children in care being drawn into the criminal justice system. Findings and recommendations are grouped under the following six outcomes: strong leadership at national and local level to drive a multi-agency approach to protecting children in care from criminalisation; early support for children and families at risk; good corporate parenting; responding to the needs of looked after children in minority; effective prevention, diversion and rehabilitation; and supporting young people leaving care. Good practice examples are included in the appendices.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
looked after children, youth justice, prevention, good practice, user views, care leavers, young offenders, early intervention, black and minority ethnic people, parenting;