This specialist quarterly ebulletin keeps you updated on relevant developments for organisations working to support women in contact with the criminal justice system. Please contact Jackie Lowthian at Jackie.lowthian@clinks.org if there is anything you would like to raise or to include items in the next ebulletin.
In this edition...
New prison places to be built in the women’s estate
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that 500 new prison places will be built in existing women’s prisons. At the same time, MoJ also announced the recipients of almost £2m grant funding to support community services working with women in contact with, or at risk of, the criminal justice system. Clinks is delighted to see that among the 38 organisations to receive the funding, many are our members. However, we are concerned that 500 new prison places undermine the intentions of the government’s female offender strategy to reduce the women’s prison population. Many Clinks members have signed a joint statement condemning these plans which they feel will harm women, their children, families and communities. It calls for a returned focus on reducing both the women's prison population and reoffending rates. Read it here
Concordat on women in or at risk of contact with the criminal justice system
The Ministry of Justice has published its concordat on women in contact with the criminal justice system (CJS), first committed to in the 2018 female offender strategy. The concordat sets out how government departments and other partners, including the voluntary sector, should work together to identify and respond more effectively to the needs of women who are in, or may come into contact with, the CJS. The concordat promotes the wider adoption of whole system approaches to address the needs of women and improve outcomes. The concordat commits to publishing a report one year on to detail the progress that has been made. Read the Concordat here. Read our blog analysing these developments here
Covid-19 pandemic: representing and supporting the voluntary sector
The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) special interest group on Covid-19 has continued to meet with the government to discuss the impact of the pandemic on the sector and the people the sector supports. The group has most recently held meetings with NHS England on the roll-out of vaccinations across prisons, and with Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) on how more voluntary sector services can be delivered in-cell to mitigate the impact of prolonged periods of lockdown. The RR3 is a formal advisory group to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HMPPS, consisting of senior voluntary sector leaders. Clinks provides sector-specific information on Covid-19, essential updates and frequently asked questions. Read more here
Probation commissioning
Clinks has been meeting weekly with Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) probation reform team to give feedback and suggest improvements to the sector’s experience of the dynamic framework commissioning. The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group special interest group on probation also met with HMPPS and the Ministry of Justice to discuss how learning from the commissioning of day one services of the new probation model can inform future commissioning. Read a summary blog and access notes here
Response to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons’ consultation on expectations for women in prison.
Clinks provided further feedback to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) on the development of a revised set of Expectations for Women, the criteria used to conduct inspections of women’s prisons. Clinks first responded to the consultation in October 2019, and is pleased to see significant changes made, including our recommendation that trauma-informed care be far more prominent, and to include two indicators specifically focussed on ensuring prisons are coordinating effectively with voluntary sector organisations. We also highlight a few areas which we think can be further strengthened, including the need for HMIP to monitor the longer term impacts of Covid-19 restrictions on women, such as the impact on mental health and wellbeing and sentence progression. Read our response here
Violence against women and girls call for evidence
The Home Office has launched a consultation to inform the development of the government’s Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy. The call for evidence seeks to build the government’s understanding of the scale and impact of violence against women and girls, the measures which may help prevent violence and the extent to which current legislation and services are effective. The consultation is seeking responses from those with lived experiences and those with expertise in working with victims and survivors. The deadline for submitting evidence is Friday 19th February. Respond to the consultation here
Update from Clinks women’s network
The latest online meeting of the Clinks Women’s networking forum took place on 12th January 2021. Over 50 participants from women’s services around the country took part in discussions on womens’ mental health in the pandemic. Suzy Dymond-White, Governor of HMP Eastwood Park spoke powerfully about the prevalence of mental health need in her prison and the lack of community treatment facilities resulting in women being sent to custody as a ‘place of safety’. Lancashire Women gave an overview of their outstanding mental health services across the county. To receive a copy of the notes from this meeting contact Jackie.lowthian@clinks.org and find more information about Clinks work on women and criminal justice here
Race and gender equality: monitoring police and prison custody
The Criminal Justice Alliance is working with the Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) and Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) on new projects to improve the monitoring of race and gender issues in police and prison custody. IMBs will survey black, Asian and minority ethnic women in prison on what needs to change. The CJA will survey IMB monitors and independent custody visitors, identify good practice and make recommendations. CJA is keen to speak to organisations working with black, Asian and minority ethnic women in police or prison custody. If you can help, contact Amal.Ali@criminaljusticealliance.org.uk
Impact of domestic abuse victimisation on women’s desistance
Natalie Christian, a PhD researcher from the University of Sheffield, is carrying out a study looking at women’s desistance journeys. With 57% of women in prison reporting experiences of domestic abuse, this new research looks to examine any potential links between desistance and domestic abuse victimisation amongst women. The question is, what is the role of agency support for criminal justice affected women in an era of austerity, and now COVID-19? Natalie wants to speak with practitioners working with women impacted by the criminal justice system as well as the women themselves. For further details contact nalchristian1@sheffield.ac.uk or see the flyer here
Why are pregnant women in prison?
Rona Epstein and Geraldine Brown, researchers from Coventry University are carrying out research to understand why pregnant women are in custody – on remand, on sentence, or on recall. An estimated 600 pregnant women are held in prisons in England and Wales each year, and about 100 babies are born inside. They are seeking to establish the reasons behind sentencing decisions and are asking women who have been pregnant in prison to fill in a confidential online survey. To find out more, email LawResearcher23@gmail.com. Women wishing to complete the survey can access participant information and take part here
What does solidarity look like in the women’s sector?
The Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) is running the following free online training courses: Intergenerational Feminism - What does solidarity look like? [19th February, online, free] and Leadership – What does solidarity look like? [25th March, online, free]. Priority will be given to women-specific organisations in London. WRC has been running the 'Solidarity Series', a programme of events which provides a space within the women’s sector for these conversations. By the end of the series, they will have created a 'Women's Sector Solidarity Pledge' for organisations to sign up to that will aim to create better solidarity within the sector and beyond. Past events have focused on exploring what solidarity looks like for commissioning and collaboration. Find out more and book here
Clinks report: The impact of Covid-19 on the voluntary sector in criminal justice
During the pandemic, Clinks has been collecting information about how voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system in England and Wales have been faring. We've built up an in-depth picture of the impact of Covid-19 on these organisations and the people they support. Findings reveal the gendered impact of lockdown on women, particularly the increased risk of domestic abuse, the worsened effects of poverty and the impact on mental health, making it more challenging for them to engage with services. Many organisations that provide services for women in the criminal justice system have had to close their community spaces and drop-in services, although new ways of offering virtual support have also been developed. Read the report here
Covid-19 and women in prison
As the UK continues in its third lockdown, prisons need to create a coronavirus strategy that is fit for purpose. In this latest article, CEO of Women in Prison, Dr Kate Paradine outlines why the sector must call for people in prison, support workers and officers to be among the first to be vaccinated. She also highlights some of the weaknesses of digital access and how 'through the gate' services are struggling to provide support due to lack of communication. Read the article here
Residential women’s centres briefing
Clinks has published a briefing from a recent event that was held on behalf of the Ministry of Justice to update voluntary organisations on plans for the Residential Women’s Centres (RWCs). The briefing highlights the feedback from delegates. Concern was raised about the impact of enforcing women to reside at a RWC on creating a trauma-informed environment; duplicating existing provision; and the impact of residing at the RWC on tenancies. There were also concerns about the lack of clarity over the locations, funding, and timescales for the RWCs. The briefing includes written responses from officials to the delegates’ questions about the RWC model. Read the briefing here
Women convicted under joint enterprise laws
Becky Clarke and Dr Kathryn Chadwick from Manchester Metropolitan University have published a research report, Stories of Injustice, on 109 women convicted under joint enterprise laws in England and Wales. Most are serving long or indeterminate prison sentences with an average of 15 years. 90% engaged in no violence in the events related to their joint enterprise conviction. Almost half were not even present at the scene of the offence. Almost half of the women disclosed that their daily lives had been marked by domestic violence. The report found that the decisions at the charging and prosecutions stages that led up to their convictions were underpinned by class stigma, racism and gendered narratives. Read the report here
Statistics on women and the criminal justice system
The Ministry of Justice has published its latest two-yearly statistics on women in the criminal justice system. The publication shows that - compared to men - women continue to be underrepresented throughout the criminal justice system and come into contact with the system for more minor offences. TV licence evasion continues to be the most common conviction for women and theft from shops the most common indictable conviction. The report also shows that women were more likely to have a number of complex needs compared to men. Higher proportions of women in contact with liaison and diversion services had suspected alcohol addictions, financial needs, were abuse victims and had mental health needs when compared to men in contact with those services. Read the report here
New figures reveal significant north-south divide in rates of women’s imprisonment
Analysis of local court data published by Prison Reform Trust reveals a continued postcode lottery in women’s imprisonment rates, with women in the north of England, the Midlands and parts of Wales far more likely to end up behind bars than those in the south of England. The analysis does suggest, however, that impressive work in some local areas to reduce the use of immediate custody for women is starting to have an effect. Read more here and see the figures for police force areas here
Literature Review: Young Women's Justice Project
Agenda and the Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ) have reviewed evidence about the needs and experiences of young women aged 17–25 in contact with the criminal justice system. They warn that this cohort is overlooked and not enough is understood about their needs and experiences. The vast majority of girls and young women who commit crime have faced significant disadvantage and trauma, having experienced high rates of violence and abuse. They were also more likely to have been in care, have mental health problems and to have lived in poverty. The review recommends that the Ministry of Justice integrates an age-informed response to young adult women within the female offender strategy. Read the report here
Young women & girls' mental health: briefing from Agenda
A generation of girls and young women will be failed without urgent action to tackle ‘alarming and growing’ rates of mental ill health, according to a new briefing from Agenda. In this briefing, Struggling alone: Girls’ and young women’s mental health, the charity warns that girls’ and young women’s mental health has been deteriorating for years – driven, in part, by violence, exploitation, abuse, poverty and discrimination. Find out more and read the briefing here
Prison for their own protection: the case for repeal
The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Women in the Penal System has called for the abolition of the power of the courts to send people to prison for their own protection. The APPG published a report that explained how the power is not used heavily, but when it is, it tends to be employed to detain the most vulnerable of defendants, predominantly those who have been let down by failings of care and support in the community. The APPG co-chairs wrote to the Secretary of State for Justice and met with Lucy Frazer QC MP to discuss their concerns. Read the report here. See the response from the Secretary of State for Justice here
Holloway prison site: creating a positive legacy for girls and women
Community Plan for Holloway is an independent campaign working to ensure the Islington community is at the heart of the redevelopment of Holloway prison. As part of their campaign they have launched the Make Space for Women competition, open to organisations, schools and individuals, with £100 prizes, with a deadline of 21st March 2021. They are seeking art/writing entries to express what you think girls and women need, to inform the redevelopment of the former Holloway Prison, which will include services for women and girls as a positive legacy. Find out more here
£7.6 million fund to help give babies the best start in life
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced the successful applicants to its new Health and Wellbeing Fund. £7.6 million will support 19 projects to reduce health inequalities among new mothers and babies. Of the 19 project winners, 6 are Clinks members, including Hestia and Lancashire Women. The project will improve community knowledge and promote engagement with pre-conception, perinatal, domestic abuse and other specialist services for targeted communities. Find out more here
If you have any comments about this ebulletin or ideas about how it could be improved, please email Jackie Lowthian.
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