Introduction
It is well documented that women in the criminal justice system have different and more severe needs than men. Women are in the minority in the criminal justice system, approximately 5% of the prison population and 15% of those serving a community sentence. Women are often neglected in a system designed for the majority. Over 53% of women in the criminal justice system experienced abuse as children, compared to 27% of men. Far more women than men are primary carers for children, with significant consequences for the children of those who go to prison, as well as the mothers. 49% of women in prison suffer from both anxiety and depression, as compared to 23% of men. Some are engaged in street sex work and significant numbers have chronic substance misuse problems.
The Corston Report called for a radical change in the way that women at risk of offending are treated across the whole of the criminal justice system. Corston advocated a women-centred approach through the extension of women’s community centres; reservation of custodial sentences for only the most serious and violent offenders posing a risk to the public; and geographically dispersed, small, multi-functional custodial centres for women. Ten years after the publication of the report, many of the damaging effects identified by Corston – for example, the disproportionately harmful impact of prison on women and their children and the futility of short custodial sentences – remain. However, the Ministry of Justice’s 2018 Female Offender Strategy recognises the ineffectiveness of short sentences and seeks to reduce their use. Scotland introduced a presumption against sentences of less than three months in 2011. This was extended to 12 months in 2017.
Our members
Our members provide a wide variety of gender specific services for women, including the one-stop-shop approach that delivers a woman-centred, holistic package of support in a safe and women only environment. Evidence from the Ministry of Justice datalab demonstrates that these women-centred holistic services work.
Are you looking for voluntary organisations working with women? Browse our Directory of offender services.
Read Clinks case studies showcasing the innovative work of our members working with women.
Clinks thinks
Clinks thinks a cross departmental strategy for women and girls, led by the Ministry of Justice, should ensure that women are diverted away from the criminal justice system at the earliest opportunity. To do this, we need to increase the use of gender specific community sentences and make sure we invest in specialist voluntary organisations, including women’s centres.
What Clinks is doing
Clinks seeks to highlight the specific and often neglected needs of women in the criminal justice system and to provide support to the organisations that work with them. We carry out this work in partnership with specialist women's organisations, such as Agenda, and campaigning organisations such as Women in Prison and the Prison Reform Trust. If you have issues you would like raised with the government, please contact Jess Mullen.
Through these partnerships, we continue to make the case for the distinct needs of women to be recognised and addressed by the criminal justice system and related agencies.
Clinks is committed to supporting women-centred community provision and the wider women’s sector. We know that strong community based women’s services are the best way to make a real difference to the lives of women at risk of entering, or those already in, the criminal justice system. If you would like support on a specific issue, please contact Jess Mullen.
Clinks publishes a quarterly ebulletin providing a roundup of developments, member activities, events and publications.
Pregnancy and maternity in the criminal justice system
Together with Birth Companions, Clinks has launched a new research survey into the needs and experiences of women who are pregnant or have recently given birth who are in contact with the criminal justice system but aren’t in prison. Although there is a wealth of knowledge about the health needs of women in prison, women in the community are often overlooked. Together, we want to advocate for the vital delivery of statutory and voluntary sector services at this important time in the lives of women and their children.
At the end of this project we will develop a report with a series of recommendations for decision-makers to demand better treatment for women in the justice system, some of which will be relevant to the voluntary sector.
Strengthening family ties
In 2018 Lord Farmer carried out a review into how to strengthen family ties for women serving sentences in the community and in custody, as well as under probation supervision after release. Clinks was a member of the review’s expert panel and led the call for evidence. We heard from approximately 10% of the female prison population along with their families, the voluntary organisations that support them and academics. We are delighted that the voice of these experts has been able to help shape the focus and recommendations of the review and we are grateful to our members for facilitating this engagement. The report was published in June 2019 and made a total of 33 recommendations. You can access it here.
Clinks sits as a member of the Family Strategy Working Group to inform the implementation of the review’s recommendations. Please contact Nicola Drinkwater, Policy Manager at Nicola.drinkwater@clinks.org if you would like more information.
Networking forums: working with women in the criminal justice system
Our quarterly networking forums, hosted in partnership with Agenda, provide support, information and networking opportunities to those working with women in contact with the criminal justice system. They provide updates on policy, member activity and host speakers on relevant topics.
Clinks gathers intelligence at these events to inform our representative work with government and other stakeholders, including the MoJ’s Advisory Board for Female. Lisa Dando, women’s specialist on the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group and Chief Executive at Brighton Women’s Centre, attends the women’s networking forum to gather feedback about key issues raised by the women’s sector to reflect these to national government at RR3 meetings.
If you would like to attend the next women’s networking forum, you can find details of upcoming events here. If you would like to suggest content for a network meeting, please contact Jackie Lowthian.
Read this group’s papers, presentations and notes from previous network meetings.
Women’s Breakout merger
Clinks worked closely with Women’s Breakout, an infrastructure organisation for women’s organisations working in the criminal justice system. After facing insurmountable financial issues, Women's Breakout approached Clinks to take on its services. The merger took place on 1st August 2017.
Coaching and mentoring scheme
In 2020 Clinks piloted a successful coaching and mentoring scheme to provide emerging leaders in the sector with opportunities to develop skills, knowledge and confidence in their field to support strong leadership and a sustainable sector. We are hoping to run this scheme again in 2021.
Advising the Ministry of Justice
Clinks represents voluntary organisations working with women in the criminal justice system. We offer intelligence to senior civil servants and successive ministers on key issues for the sector in order to ensure policy and decision making is informed and up-to-date.
Our representative work with the government and other stakeholders includes representation on the Ministry of Justice’s Advisory Board for Female Offenders (ABFO). The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3), the advisory group to the Ministry of Justice includes a representative from the women’s sector. If you would like to raise an issue with either of these groups, please email ABFO rep Jess Mullen or RR3 rep LisaDando@womenscentre.org.uk
What's new
Blogs
Being, Becoming, Belonging
Publications
Notes from the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) Special Interest Group on Covid-19
Latest on Twitter

We are extremely disappointed that the JCVI advice on phase 2 of the COVID vaccination programme does not prioritise people in prison and those who work with them, including voluntary sector staff and volunteers https://gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-phase-2-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-programme-advice-from-the-jcvi/jcvi-interim-statement-on-phase-2-of-the-covid-19-vaccination-programme
Events
Related publications
Related blogs
Other sources of support
The Corston Report
Women Centred Working
Ministry of Justice’s Female Offender Strategy
Women's Breakout