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...
- News
- Events and Training
- Publications and Resources
- Campaigns
- Blogs
- Funding
- Extra Information
Ministerial responsibilities published
Following the reshuffle, which saw Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP appointed as Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the responsibilities of each minister in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have been published. The Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP retains his role as Minister of State at both the MoJ and Home Office, but holds wider responsibilities, including probation and reducing reoffending. Victoria Atkins MP, appointed Minister of State in the MoJ, has responsibilities including women, youth justice, prisons and health. Tom Pursglove MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the MoJ, leads on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and James Cartlidge MP, also Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, leads on race, courts and sentencing. See more about ministerial appointments here
Spending Review
Clinks has made two representations to the Treasury to inform the Spending Review 2021, one setting out how government investment can best support voluntary organisations in the criminal justice system to reduce reoffending, and one highlighting the importance of investing in families, and supporting those affected by parental and family imprisonment. The Spending Review will conclude alongside the autumn budget on 27th October. Read our Time to invest in families representation here, and Representation to the Spending Review 2021 here
What's new in the women's sector?
Clinks has launched its eighth annual State of the sector survey. This is one of our biggest and most important information collection projects we conduct every year. In our last State of the sector survey in 2019, you told us that organisations providing tailored support to women are seeing service user needs become more complex due to funding cuts, welfare reform and a reduction in gender specific services. They were also found to be more likely to provide emotional and mental health support, compared to organisations that do not provide tailored support for women. Is this still the case? We need up to date evidence to continue representing and supporting the women's sector and its service users effectively. Complete our 20 minute survey here by 8th November
Reforming maternity services at Her Majesty’s Prison Bronzefield
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) Sue McAllister has published an independent investigation into the tragic death of a baby in September 2019 at HMP Bronzefield. The report, published in September 2021, identified a considerable number of concerns about the care and management of the baby’s mother and makes recommendations to improve maternity services in Bronzefield alongside calls for action by the prison service to improve outcomes for pregnant women in prison. Recommendations include the need to recognise that all pregnancies in prison are high risk, and that the clinic-based community model of midwifery care is not appropriate to a custodial setting. Birth Companions will be working closely with Her Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service on the implementation of its new framework on pregnancy, mother and baby units and maternal separation. Read the PPO’s report and action plan here
Women in prison inquiry hears evidence on health
The Justice Committee's inquiry on women in prison held an evidence session looking at women’s health in prison. Witnesses included Jenny Talbot, Chair of the National Women's Prisons Health and Social Care Review; Dr Cath Durkin, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust; and Dr Amanda Brown, GP at Her Majesty’s Prison Bronzefield. Witnesses spoke about the prevalence of complex physical and mental health needs amongst women in prison, including issues stemming from or exacerbated by experiences of homelessness, substance misuse and trauma. Witnesses suggested community alternatives to prison such as Community Sentence Treatment Requirements should be better utilised, and encouraged better sharing of health information across agencies. Read the transcript or watch the session here
Victims of abuse who offend: domestic homicide sentencing review
Clare Wade QC was appointed in September to lead an independent, government-commissioned review of sentencing in domestic homicide cases. The terms of reference for the review have not been published at the time of writing. Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer QC MP tabled an amendment (NC 86) to the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill in July setting out proposed terms for such a review, including a proposal that it should include the creation of new defences and/or mitigating circumstances to protect victims of domestic abuse who commit offences as a consequence of that abuse. Find out more about the review here
Regional Reducing Reoffending plans
Following the unification of the Probation Service in June, each of the 12 Regional Probation Directors (RPDs) has published a Regional Reducing Reoffending Plan, which sets out how they will work with partner organisations to cut crime and make communities safer by reducing reoffending. RPDs bring together direct delivery of sentence management, unpaid work and interventions with significant regional commissioning budgets for rehabilitative services. The plans, which will be renewed annually, allow RPDs to highlight specific priorities and ambitions for their individual regions. They also reflect and align with the broader HMPPS approach to reducing reoffending - strengthening supervision, engaging people in rehabilitative activity and improving the support they receive to resettle in the community. Read the plans here and look out for a Clinks blog investigating the plans on our website soon.
Opening of Eden House and expansion of approved premises for women
The official opening of Eden House Approved Premises (APs) in Bristol took place on 14th September. It provides space for 26 women who will receive tailored support to find a job, a permanent home and to reconnect with their family as they reintegrate back into society following their prison sentence. Staff will also closely monitor the women on probation to ensure compliance with any bail or licence conditions. The facility is operated by Interventions Alliance, Seetec under contract to Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service as part of its pledge to create an extra 200 new beds in APs by 2023. Watch a video about Eden House here
Spotlight on the London Black Women’s Project
The London Black Women’s Project, formerly Newham Asian Women’s Project, has a dynamic history which is about social change and transformation. Originally established in 1981 to campaign for and support the needs of South Asian women in the London Borough of Newham, the organisation was re-named the London Black Women’s Project in 2015. For Black women, by Black women, it is committed to securing the highest level of quality services provision towards protecting, promoting and developing the rights and resources of women and children from racially minoritised groups. See the range of services on offer here
Update from Clinks Women’s Network
The latest online meeting of the Clinks Women’s networking forum took place on 28th September 2021. 45 participants from women’s services around the country joined the meeting to hear presentations addressing housing needs for women. Jennet Peters, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and Graham MacKenzie, Ministry of Justice Policy lead, provided details of the new Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS3), launched in July. The new service, live in five regions, provides basic, transitional housing for people leaving prison, bail accommodation and approved premises (APs). Delegates also heard from Anawim about its Dawn House residential provision for women and from Resonance Ltd about its Women in Safe Homes Fund which offers social investment and partners with women’s sector charities to develop housing and support for vulnerable women. 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
Clinks Annual conference and AGM 2021: Building a better future
Following a turbulent year, there are opportunities for voluntary organisations in the criminal justice system to not only recover, but to learn from how services have adapted, build on new ways of working, and ultimately shape a better future for the people we support. Clinks Annual conference and AGM [23rd - 25th November 2021, online, free] explores how we can construct a post-pandemic future with a fairer criminal justice system that utilises the vast expertise and diversity of voluntary organisations, treating them as equal partners. One where organisations not only survive but thrive. Find out more and book your place here
Clinks Stronger voice training
Clinks has launched the Stronger voice training programme, bringing together a range of expert training providers across policy, campaigns and communications to support organisations of all sizes to influence decision makers. This programme is being delivered as part of Clinks’ three-year Stronger voice project, funded by the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, aimed at helping the voluntary sector working in criminal justice to develop a unified and influential voice, at both a national and regional level. Read more here
Women’s Resource Centre training
As usual, the Women’s Resource Centre is running a number of training courses and events. These include: wellbeing training [27th October, online, free] which provides opportunities for reflections on wellbeing during the pandemic and tips to ensure wellbeing in the workplace; and unconscious bias training [11th November, online, free] which offers insights into understanding how unconscious bias can affect decision-making and provides techniques to identify, challenge and prevent unconscious bias in the workplace. Book your place here
CAPPTIVE: women’s experiences of prison during the Covid-19 lockdown regime
Based on evidence gathered from women in prison as part of Prison Reform Trust’s CAPPTIVE project, as well as other sources, including findings from the Short Scrutiny Visits to women’s prison, this briefing reveals the devastating impact of the Covid-19 lockdown regime on the mental health and wellbeing of women in prison during the pandemic. Read the briefing here
Why focus on reducing women’s imprisonment?
Too many women continue to be sent to prison on short sentences for non-violent offences. This briefing from Prison Reform Trust provides a concise explanation of the need to focus on reducing women’s imprisonment. It includes key facts on the number of women imprisoned, characteristics of women in prison, and information about community-based services and solutions. Read the briefing here
Young women and the criminal justice system
Agenda has published a new briefing with the Alliance for Youth Justice, entitled I wanted to be heard. As part of their research, commissioned by the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, they spoke to young women with lived experience and expert practitioners who support them, about what young women in contact with the criminal justice system need from services. They found that young women’s experiences of violence, abuse and exploitation can drive them into the criminal justice system, but their experiences are too often overlooked by the agencies they turn to for support. They recommended a joined-up approach which addresses the issues mentioned, including addressing inequalities which drive the over-representation of racially minoritised young women and care-experienced young women. Read it here
The View Magazine autumn edition
The autumn 2021 edition of The View Magazine is now published. The View is a campaigning platform and quarterly magazine featuring art, poetry and literature by women in prison, human rights advocates and organisations advocating for prison reform. This latest edition explores how women with lived experience can be part of the solution, helping to inform the debate around rehabilitation. It also includes a piece by the Chief Executive Officer of Women's Aid on inclusivity and raising awareness of how domestic abuse impacts women in the justice system. Subscribe to the magazine here
Prisoners’ families’ experiences during lockdown
Get it off your chest, a report from POPS highlights the difficulties faced by people with a loved one in custody during the Covid-19 regime restrictions in prisons. Accounts cover the impact on visits, the challenges and benefits of secure video visits, communication, concerns for physical and mental health, the impact on those in prison with children, the financial effects, and the impact on release. POPS hopes that family members reading this will feel their voices have been heard and amplified, and that professionals working in the criminal justice system and beyond will take note of the impact this crisis has had on prisoners and their families and act to address the concerns raised. Download a copy of the report here
Pregnancy in prison
Women in Prison, Birth Companions and Level Up have launched a joint campaign to stop sending pregnant women to prison. They are calling for judges to be legally bound to prioritise the health of pregnant women, and avoid sending them to prison at all costs. In an iNews article, a woman who was pregnant in prison discusses her experience and why she is part of the campaign. You can add your voice to the campaign by signing a petition to stop pregnant women being sent to prison. Sign the petition here and read the iNews article here
An independent review of the Dynamic Framework
Richard Oldfield was commissioned in January 2021 by then Minister for Prisons and Probation, Lucy Frazer QC MP to undertake an independent review of the Dynamic Framework. In this blog, he discusses his review and its recommendations: that there should be a large-scale adoption of grants as the funding mechanism for some of the services; simplification of contracts; and a system which obliges large entities to include more specialised smaller organisations in their bids. We welcome this review, which echoes many of the issues we’ve consistently raised and recommendations we’ve made. We were pleased to receive a response to the review from the Director General of Probation, Amy Rees. Read the blog and access the response here
State of the sector 2021 survey: why your response matters
Senior Policy Officer Will Downs has written a blog detailing the four main reasons your responses to our eighth annual State of the sector are so important to us, and the wider voluntary sector working in the criminal justice system. This is your chance to share your experiences and ensure the women's sector is represented, and help us influence key decision makers on your behalf. All of your responses will form the basis of an in-depth report to be published early next year and will help us to understand the challenges and opportunities for organisations working to transform the lives of people in the criminal justice system as we regroup from the Covid-19 pandemic. Read the blog here
Funding for London: the City Bridge Trust
The City Bridge Trust provides grant funding to benefit the people of Greater London. The trust has a number of open grants programmes that may benefit vulnerable women in London. These include: provision of advice and support to disadvantaged individuals in the following areas: benefits; debt & money; fuel poverty; employment problems; housing; or immigration status. There is also a grant focusing on food poverty to tackle issues related to hardship and crisis by funding the infrastructure needed to support the distribution of donated food. They particularly want to hear from organisations working to ensure that clients receive culturally appropriate food. Find out how to apply here
Ministry of Justice core grant funding for women’s organisations
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has completed the evaluation of the applications received for the £2.5m grant funding competition for core costs of women’s community sector organisations. 37 organisations were successful in securing grants and awards were made to organisations operating in all of the probation regions. All organisations who applied have been notified of the result of their application and the MoJ is currently finalising grant agreements with successful organisations to enable grants to be paid. The grants are available to cover core costs incurred by organisations between 14th September 2021 and 31st March 2022. This grant funding is in addition to the £7m earlier MoJ investment into the women’s community sector organisations since the publication of the Female Offender Strategy.
If you have any comments about this ebulletin or feedback for improvement, please email Jackie Lowthian.
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