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

Following research undertaken in 2020, Clinks and Birth Companions published a report exploring the needs and experiences of pregnant women and new mothers in contact with the criminal justice system in the community, in England. The report is based on the lived experiences of these women and those involved in their care. We have set out 16 recommendations for change, aimed at criminal justice agencies, health services, voluntary sector organisations, and social services. These include prioritising and sustainable funding whole systems approaches, ensuring provision supports a trauma-informed, holistic and culturally appropriate approach, implementing Lord Farmer’s recommendation for mandatory pre-sentence reports as soon as possible, and reversing the plans to create 500 new prison places for women.

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.