Women in contact with the criminal justice system face unique challenges and providing them with effective support requires a gender-specific, trauma-informed, holistic approach. In September, our Women’s Network gathered to discuss current probation arrangements, the challenges faced, and opportunities for the future – with an eye on the Government’s proposed strategic review of probation governance.

Here we will explore some of the key insights, challenges, and recommendations discussed by specialist women’s organisations at the Network Forum.

Challenges in the current system

Inconsistencies across regions

A key issue highlighted was the inconsistent application of a gendered approach across probation regions. In some regions, dedicated probation officers work exclusively with women, whilst in others, probation officers manage large caseloads predominantly made up of men, with only a small number of women, which limits the tailored attention and support these women need to address their distinct challenges. This disparity has led to a “postcode lottery” effect, where access to appropriate support largely depends on geographical location.

Barriers to engagement

A recurring point was the barriers that women face in engaging successfully with probation, particularly around childcare. Often, there is limited awareness of the challenges women face in arranging childcare, which creates obstacles in complying with sentence requirements and accessing essential support. Whilst Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS) providers are expected to offer safe, child-friendly spaces for women, this need is not consistently recognised or prioritised within the probation service.

High caseloads for probation practitioners have also led to burnout and ultimately high staff turnover, which directly impacts the continuity of care and quality of service delivery. Consistent relationships are essential for establishing the trust women need to engage meaningfully with services.

Similarly, we know that women benefit from long-term, sequenced interventions that address their needs over time. However, under probation ‘reset' arrangements, individuals only receive probation supervision and access to services up to the two-thirds point of their community sentence or licence period. This shortened timeframe raises real concerns, as it may jeopardise effective engagement, potentially leaving women without enough support to make lasting changes.

Insufficient data sharing and pre-release support

Participants highlighted significant gaps in information sharing practices, which limit voluntary organisations’ ability to provide seamless support, especially for women leaving prison. Key information, such as whether a woman is in custody or on remand, or which prison she is currently held in, is often missing from referrals. Inadequate multi-agency collaboration often means safeguarding risks are not consistently identified, making it difficult to create robust, wraparound support for women. Participants also noted the need for earlier identification of cases to allow women timely access to support.

Further challenges were noted in relation to pre-release assessments, with many organisations relying on community-based staff to conduct these assessments in prisons, which strains their resources. Additionally, the lack of video-link access hinders the assessment process, adding further hurdles to preparing women for transition back into the community.

Lack of culturally informed approaches

A significant gap identified was the lack of culturally informed and intersectional approaches for women, particularly affecting those from racially minoritised backgrounds. Intersectionality recognises that individuals possess multiple identities, such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status, that intersect to shape their unique experiences of disadvantage and privilege. An intersectional approach within probation services takes into account how these overlapping identities impact women’s interactions with the system, the challenges they encounter, and the support they need.

Limited understanding of these specific needs and challenges can prevent meaningful engagement with support services, further compounding the existing difficulties these women face within the criminal justice system. Without tailored and culturally sensitive interventions, the probation system risks failing to effectively address the complexities of each woman’s circumstances, essentially undermining their chances of successful rehabilitation.

Looking ahead - an effective model

Participants at the session highlighted a range of elements considered essential to the effective delivery of support for women in contact with the criminal justice system.

A whole-system approach

A holistic, whole-system approach is essential to bridge the disconnect between the various parts of the justice system and local non-statutory services. A critical element to this involves commissioning practices that acknowledge the distinct and diverse needs of women, as well as the importance of involving women in service design.

Co-location of services

The Forum agreed that co-location of probation staff with women’s centres is crucial for fostering trust and continuity. Co-located services allow women to access support in a familiar and supportive environment, which is integral to trauma-informed care. Additionally, the Forum agreed that probation officers must familiarise themselves with the services available in their local area to ensure women receive the best possible support.

Improved Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS)

Participants pointed out flaws in the current CRS referral process, with the ‘refer and monitor’ system causing significant administrative barriers. Streamlining the role of probation officers to focus on key intervention points, rather than every stage of the process, would enable a smoother and more effective approach.  Often, CRS providers are better placed to make informed decisions, particularly given that many women accessing services can be distrustful of statutory organisations and therefore are more likely to share important information with a specialist voluntary sector provider. By empowering CRS providers with more autonomy, service delivery would be enhanced, whilst also allowing probation officers to focus on successful interventions as opposed to administrative burdens.

A focus on early intervention

Participants emphasised the importance of early intervention. Effective models should incorporate diversion services, allowing women to access support before they encounter the formal justice system. Currently, preventative work for women at risk is limited and often funded only for the short term.

A successful example of gender-responsive support that was discussed, was the Intensive Supervision Court model (ISC). This model promotes collaboration among probation officers, voluntary sector caseworkers, and judges to ensure women’s needs are understood pre-sentencing. Support to meet needs is provided as part of a sentencing package. Ideally non-statutory partners would be co-commissioned by Police Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), to allow for smooth handovers within the same service or organisation as women are processed through the system.

Improved sentencing options

Improving the quality of pre-sentence reports (PSRs) is essential for judges to make better informed sentencing decisions that truly consider each woman’s unique circumstances and needs. PSRs that capture a full understanding of women’s needs and challenges can lead to fairer sentencing decisions that are more effective in reducing reoffending.

Furthermore, adopting a whole-systems approach, where judges, probation, and voluntary sector services work in closer collaboration, could lead to more effective solutions and sentencing outcomes for women. Participants also highlighted the urgent need for greater investment in community sentencing options. Robust community-based interventions are better equipped to address the root causes of offending, offering a pathway away from reoffending, and ultimately reducing the number of women entering the prison system.

Bridging the disconnect

While HMPPS has strong goals and aspirations for supporting women, these interventions are not fully integrated into the everyday mindset, practice, or culture of frontline staff in prison and probation services. Bridging this disconnect between theory and practice requires a more integrated, consistent approach to turn strategic goals into real and impactful change on the ground. By aligning efforts across the statutory and voluntary sector, enhancing collaboration, and placing trust in the voluntary organisations directly working with women, we can create a probation system that truly supports women in building stable and positive futures.