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...
The state of the sector - key trends in the voluntary sector working in criminal justice
On 11th April, Clinks published The state of the sector 2021, which outlines how voluntary organisations have faced incredibly difficult challenges over the last year. We heard a lot about isolation and loneliness amongst people in the criminal justice system, and disturbingly, also of a marked rise in women facing domestic violence and abuse. A unique strength of the sector is its ability to provide flexible, tailored support to different groups of people. It is great to see that 32% of respondents said either their main stated purpose was to provide services for women or that they deliver specific services for women. Download here: The state of the sector 2021
Clinks response to the Prison Strategy White Paper
In February we published our response to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) consultation on the Prison Strategy White Paper. To inform our response, we spoke to 113 voluntary sector organisations working in criminal justice through three consultation events, and further discussions with specialist organisations. The areas we focussed on included the lack of a convincing case for the expansion of the prison estate; the lack of attention the strategy gives to the contribution of voluntary organisations despite the high volume of organisations working in prisons across England and Wales; and calling for the strategy to be explicitly anti-racist and clearly set out how it will tackle racial discrimination and disproportionality in the prison system. See the full response here and read our summary blog here.
Improving outcomes for women in the criminal justice system
Clinks has published our letter in response to the Public Accounts Committee’s call for evidence for the inquiry into improving outcomes for women in the criminal justice system. We highlighted concerns that less than half of the Female Offender Strategy’s commitments have been fully implemented, nearly three years after its publication. We also reiterated concerns about the government’s plan to build an additional 500 women’s prison places. Clinks believes that to achieve the ambitions of the Female Offender Strategy money should be invested in community-based services and diversionary schemes delivered through women-centred and trauma-informed models. We therefore continue to call for the government to provide adequate, sustainable funding to support community-based, specialist women’s services. Read the letter here
Clinks represents members at the Ministry of Justice Women in the Criminal Justice System expert group
Jess Mullen, Clinks Director of Influence and Communications attended the Ministry of Justice’s first Women in the Criminal Justice System Expert Group meeting. Clinks will have a permanent seat in this group and will attend, alongside two other nominated members, quarterly ministerial meetings on women in the criminal justice system. At this first meeting there was discussion of the forthcoming delivery plan to accompany the Female Offender Strategy, with emphasis on the need for clear metrics so delivery and impact can be measured. See the strategy here
Poor safety in women’s prisons
Her Majesty's Young Offender Institution (HMYOI) Foston Hall has been assessed by HM Inspectorate of Prisons as poor for safety in a “rare and unexpected finding” in a recent inspection, which identified very high violence and self-harm and inadequate care for vulnerable women. The finding is the first score of poor – the lowest – for the safety of women prisoners since the Inspectorate developed its current framework more than a decade ago. It is accompanied by a paper identifying key findings in the inspection of five women’s prisons – Low Newton, Styal, Send, Downview and Foston Hall – in the last six months. While identifying good practice in some prisons, the paper raises serious concerns about high rates of self-harm and vulnerability across the women’s prison estate. Read more here
All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Women in the Penal System investigates women’s health and well-being
The APPG on Women in the Penal system is publishing a briefing paper as part of its inquiry into women’s health and well-being in prison. The evidence, gathered from experts including Clinks and its members, showed that prisons are not healthy environments for women. They are unable to address the physical and mental health needs of women and in fact exacerbate them. The impact of the pandemic has further exacerbated existing problems within prisons, increasing the damage prison causes to women’s health and well-being. The APPG stated that the Prison Strategy White Paper is a missed opportunity to address the needs of women in the criminal justice system and to reduce the harm caused by imprisonment. Find out more about the inquiry here
Somewhere Safe to Live
Together Women is working in partnership with Leeds City Council (LCC) on a new scheme which supports women into high quality, safe and secure, accommodation in Leeds. Somewhere Safe to Stay, provides post-lockdown emergency accommodation for women. Somewhere Safe to Live, funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities through the Rough Sleepers initiative, will provide move on accommodation and high intensity, trauma-informed support - in the properties and at Together Women’s Leeds Centre - to women who have experienced significant and/or repeated homelessness. Having somewhere safe to live is a fundamental human need and through this new partnership, Together Women aims to help women sustain their tenancies and ultimately to rebuild their lives. Find out more here
West Yorkshire puts women and girls’ safety at heart of Police and Crime Plan
The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, published her first Police and Crime Plan in March with a vision of making the county safe, just, and inclusive. It puts the safety of women and girls at the heart of the 3-year strategy and coincided with a series of events marking International Women’s Day. The Plan, based on extensive community consultation, sets out the strategic direction for West Yorkshire Police, working with community safety partners and commissioned services. It includes working across the partnerships including the Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB) to improve outcomes for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse and violence, embedding a trauma-informed approach across systems to ensure services are sensitive, empathetic and understand the impact of lived experiences. Read the plan here
Women’s Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA) – get involved in testing a new tool
The WRNA is a comprehensive, gender-responsive, risk, needs and strengths assessment and case management tool, designed for use with women involved or at risk of contact with the justice system. The WRNA aims to predict risk of re-offending and provides a consistent evidence base for organisations to demonstrate their effectiveness working with women with complex needs. It is being validated by a research team at The University of Birmingham (led by Prof Simon Pemberton) at Anawim – Birmingham’s Centre for Women; The Nelson Trust; and Together Women, funded by The JABBS Foundation. The WRNA Team are seeking potential partners for roll out after validation and are keen to speak to those wanting to know more about the WRNA. For further study details visit the project website or contact chloe.geoghegan@thejabbsfoundation.co.uk
Call for interview participants: Wellbeing of staff in women’s sector
A team from the Universities of Glasgow, Cambridge, and Massachusetts are recruiting interview participants as part of their Nuffield-funded research project, Women working to support women in the welfare sphere. They are looking for managers /supervisors and frontline workers who have experience of providing services to marginalised women and girls. Interviews will cover the effects that the work may have both upon practitioners’ own lives and wellbeing, as well as on the efficacy of the services provided. If you are interested in participating in a confidential online or telephone interview that will last around an hour please contact the team on jmgf2@cam.ac.uk, or visit their website to find out more A £15 voucher will be offered to help reimburse workers for their time.
The Prison Phoenix Trust 52 Challenge
“Meditation helps me ground myself and relieves me from panic episodes. The yoga relaxes and energises,” writes Kathryn from HMP Eastwood Park. The prison community is invited to come together in May for The Prison Phoenix Trust 52 Challenge - raising awareness of the benefits of yoga and meditation for people in prison. In the run up to 14-15 May people inside and outside prison will set themselves a challenge based on the number 52 – inspired by senior prison manager and yoga fan Suzy, who is running a double marathon - 52 miles. Challenges might be 52 minutes walking or running, 5 yoga poses done on two days... anything that gets people focused on living healthily. Find out more and get free resources here
Clinks Women’s network update
The most recent meeting of the Clinks Women’s networking forum took place on 29th March 2022, joined by participants from women’s services around the country who heard presentations on the theme of the intersectionality of racism and sexism experienced by women and girls affected by the criminal justice system. Rachel Tynan provided a policy update from Clinks. To attend future Women’s network meetings please register as a member. Registration is free and open to current Clinks members that work or volunteer in women-specific voluntary organisations that provide services for women, or those who work with men and women but currently deliver fully established services designed specifically for and open only to women. Register to the Women’s network here
Workshop: A trauma-informed approach and the Working with Trauma Quality Mark
This event [10 May 2022, 14:30 - 16:00, online, free] Provides information about being trauma-informed. Come along to this workshop to find out how the Working with Trauma Quality Mark could work for your organisation. In this workshop Esther Thompson from One Small Thing will cover: An overview of a trauma-informed approach; what is the Working with Trauma Quality Mark; why do it?; what do the three levels of the Quality Mark (Bronze, Silver, Gold) mean; how is it structured and what type of evidence will you need to gather?; and, how do I get started? Book here
Exploring gambling harms
This event [17th May, online, free] is part of the Howard League’s HMPPS Insights 22 festival. It will explore the complex interplay between crime and gambling harms through in-depth qualitative research about people’s lived experiences, including women and ethnic minority communities. The session will explore the impact of gambling harms and identify the potential benefits from improved knowledge and recognition of gambling harms within the criminal justice system. Find out more about the session and book a place here
Women’s Resource Centre training
The Women’s Resource Centre is continuing to run its programme of feminist leadership training [over two days, various dates in May and June, online, cost £95 per day] which will increase confidence, knowledge, and skills in leading through a feminist lens. The training uses a person-centred approach that enables women to recognise their leadership traits, explore the relationship between feminism, intersectionality and leadership, learn about practical tools, share good practice and exchange dialogue about specific specialist subjects to enable and initiate social change. Find out more and book places here
Clinks’ Stronger Voice project, Phase two: using your voice
The programme of events will bring together a range of expert training providers across policy, campaigns and communications to support organisations of all sizes to influence decision makers. It 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. Phase two of the programme, centred around ‘using your voice’, launches in May, with events that include: Shaping personal stories in our communications; Evaluating and measuring impact; Achieving policy change Working with lived experience; Bringing out the ‘why’ in your work; and Writing an effective policy response. Look out for further details in 'Light Lunch' you can subscribe here
The Howard League community awards 2022
This year’s awards will be launched at the beginning of May 2022. There will be a category looking for and championing work with women in the community, diverting them away from the criminal justice system. Successful community projects that reduce crime and transform lives for the better will be honoured once again with prestigious Howard League Community Awards at a celebratory event on 19 October 2022 (save the date). You can find details of past winners, examples of best practice in the sector and details of the Community Awards here
Women veterans in the criminal justice system
Forward Assist, Salute Her UK and Labour Friends of the Forces are conducting a consultation on UK women veterans’ lived experience of the criminal justice system. If you, or the women you work with, have served in the British Armed Forces and have experience of the criminal justice system and would like to contribute to the consultation, email paula@forward-assist.com
Clinks publication: the voluntary sector’s experience of the probation reform programme – the commissioning of day one services
Using evidence gathered from our survey of 241 voluntary organisations and eight interviews in May-June 2021, our research finds the commissioning process for day one probation services was complex, cumbersome and bureaucratic and the financial costs of involvement were significant. Many small, specialist organisations were unable to engage with the process. The report makes nine recommendations aimed at supporting future commissioning processes including that in order to encourage and facilitate the engagement of small, specialist organisations in commissioning processes to ensure true diversity of providers, grants should be the default funding option for voluntary sector organisations. We continue to work constructively with the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS to explore how they can implement our recommendations. Read the report here
Clinks publication: Navigating the criminal justice system
We have published a guide to Navigating the criminal justice system. The criminal justice system in England and Wales can be daunting to understand because of both its size and complexity. If you’re new to working or volunteering in this field, this Clinks guide will help you understand how the criminal justice system is organised and how it works. Follow useful links within this interactive document to delve deeper on areas such as sentences, prisons, probation, children in the criminal justice system, and more. Read the guide here
“We’ve not given up”: Young women surviving the criminal justice system
A new briefing from Agenda and the Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ) investigates young women’s pathways into the criminal justice system and reveals that up to 90% of girls in contact with the youth justice system have experienced abuse from a family member or someone they trusted, and 63% of girls and young women serving community sentences have experienced rape or domestic abuse. Young women report that they have lost trust in the system, particularly when they have been held in police custody or prison. The briefing calls on the Ministry of Justice to make urgent reforms, showing that without immediate attention, girls and young women will remain marginalised and locked in a cycle of harm, inequality, and re-offending. Read the briefing here
Double standard: ending the unjust criminalisation of victims of violence against women and girls
“I am being punished by the system that was supposed to be there to help and protect me”. Naomi (not her real name) is one of 18 women who share their stories in this new report from Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ). The report summarises relevant research and includes new legal analysis and insights from roundtables with frontline practitioners. CWJ calls for reforms in law and practice to transform the response to women and girls as victims and alleged offenders. Find out more and read the report and executive summary here
Fighting for a better benefits system
Working Chance has published a report as part of its Better Benefits campaign, which calls for the government to make changes to universal credit to better support women with convictions. Amongst other things, the report found that monthly universal credit payments do not provide adequate money to live a full and happy life, and women with convictions can face particular problems as a result of the five-week wait for their first payment. Working Chance recommends a non-repayable grant is provided for anyone starting a universal credit claim in financial difficulty, and that Jobcentre staff are trained to provide trauma-informed, gender-specific support to women with convictions, including women who are not given an immediate prison sentence. Download the full report or see an executive summary here.
Community justice framing toolkit
Community Justice Scotland has published a toolkit to help everyone working in the criminal justice system talk about community justice in a consistent, easy to understand way, that gets across its benefits and value. This toolkit sets out five key principles for communicators in mind, to help get their message across. These include making evidence based, tangible claims, rather than sweeping general statements, emphasising the community and the victims of crime, using everyday vocabulary rather than jargon, keeping communication simple by being wary of metaphors and similes, and building on what people are willing to believe. It goes on to provide some practical examples of how the principles it sets out can be put into practice when discussing community justice. Get the toolkit
A new force for change: National Women’s Justice Coalition
Fifteen women-specific organisations are collaborating to build strength and ensure sustainability in the sector so that women can access gender-specific, trauma-informed support in the community and during custody. Founded by a group of five senior leaders, Lisa Dando, Joy Doal, Rokaiya Khan, Rose Mahon and Kate Paradine, the coalition has recently expanded its membership and is developing shared approaches to feminist leadership, anti-racism and lived experience expertise. To strengthen the voice of the women’s sector, partners will be developing shared messages on issues of joint concern and supporting campaign work that individual coalition members are leading, such as the #Stopthe500 prison places for women and campaigns for the sustainable funding of women’s centres. To find out more, contact Development Manager Abbi Ayers AbbiA@togetherwomen.org
Identifying children impacted by parental imprisonment
In this guest blog by Children Heard and Seen, Cara Mohan-Carr, Policy and Campaigns Co-ordinator, explores the context for parental imprisonment and outlines a new pilot for Early Identification of Children Impacted by Parental Imprisonment in collaboration with Thames Valley Police and Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit. According to Crest Advisory, an estimated 312,000 children experience parental imprisonment each year in England and Wales. Despite this figure, there is currently no statutory mechanism for identifying children with a parent in prison. This blog details more about the pilot project aiming to address this issue, identify children impacted by parental imprisonment, so they can receive appropriate support. Read the blog here
‘Child Q’ – racism, stigma and trauma experienced by Black girls
“The recent case of ‘Child Q’ - the Black girl subjected to an inappropriate police strip search in her school illustrates how Black girls are discriminated against on account of both their gender and ethnicity and are more likely than their white counterparts to face barriers in accessing safety and support as overlapping forms of stigma and discrimination put them at greater risk of criminalisation and ongoing mental health issues.” Indy Cross, CEO of Agenda. Ebinehita Iyere, founder of Milk Honey Bees, and Indy Cross highlight the urgent need for change. Read the blog here
If you have any comments about this ebulletin or feedback for improvement, please email Jackie Lowthian.
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