It reads: I agree that instead of imprisoning more women, the government should invest in more effective alternatives to custody and crime diversion schemes. The best way to reduce women's offending is by tackling the causes - by improving mental health services, tackling drug abuse and through community punishments.'

The campaign is also backed by Juliet Stevenson, Sheila Hancock and Clare Rayner and a number of prominent women's organisations. The petition follows an EDM last February calling for action which was sponsored by Vera Baird QC MP and signed by 87 MPs including Glenda Jackson and Diane Abbott.

"There are too many women in prison who shouldn't be there, it doesn't stop them offending, it's very expensive and there are
thousands of children affected by their mum's imprisonment every year" said Michelle Collins.

SmartJustice for Women is calling for an end to the practice of locking up vulnerable women for non-violent offences and for an increase in the use of community based solutions to crime. In the six months since it's launch last summer it has collected almost 3,000 signatures up and down the country through a series of talks in schools and events in the community.

The female prison population has almost tripled in the last ten years with women now seven times more likely to be jailed by magistrates' courts than they were in 1991.

Eight out of ten are jailed for non-violent crimes and more women are sent to prison for theft and handling stolen goods than any other crime. Eight out of ten women shoplifters are reconvicted within two years of leaving jail

In addition, nearly 18,000 children are separated from their mothers by imprisonment each year.

¾ of women sent to prison have drug and mental health problems, half have been victims of domestic violence and a third were abused as children.

"Locking up women who are vulnerable and desperate does not stop them committing crime," says SmartJustice Director Lucie
Russell. "If we are serious about reducing women's offending we need to tackle the reasons they are committing crimes in the
first place. The solutions lie in drug treatment, mental health care, jobs, housing and family support - not behind prison walls"

And actress Sheila Hancock says "I fully support the SmartJustice for women campaign. Locking up women for non violent crimes
is both ineffective and counter productive."

SmartJustice for Women believes that the best way to reduce women's offending is by tackling the causes through:
* Improved mental health care
* Women-focused drug and alcohol services
* Community punishments specifically for women offenders
* Support for victims of domestic violence and abuse
* Education, training and employment opportunities for women at risk of offending
* Safe and decent housing
* Debt counselling
* Childcare so that women can access the above services

Please contact the following for more information.
Lucie Russell, 0207 689 7734 / 07931 507873 or Sinead Hanks 07931 380952.

ends

Notes to Editors
1. SmartJustice is a five year campaign which promotes community based solutions to crime. It is based at the Prison Reform Trust and funded by the Network for Social Change, the group behind the Jubilee 2000 Drop the Debt Campaign. It is supported by and Alliance of organisations including Shelter, the NUS and the YMCA.

2. SmartJustice for Women is supported by the Soroptimists, the Catholic Women's League and the Maternity Alliance and also featured prominently in the Women's Institute Annual Conference.

3. Key facts about women and prison:

" On 24th February 2006, there were 4,415 women were in prison in England and Wales women in prison compared with 1,811 in 1994.
" Eight in ten women are jailed for non-violent crimes
" Nearly 2/3 of women sent to prison are on remand awaiting trial or sentence. Of these, 59 per cent do not receive a custodial sentence and one in five is acquitted altogether.
" 2/3 of women prisoners have a drug problem, 2/3 have mental health problems and half have been victims of domestic violence
" Eight in ten women shoplifters are reconvicted within two years of leaving jail
" Nearly 18,000 children are separated from their mothers by imprisonment each year.
" A woman is 7 times as likely to receive a custodial sentence in a magistrate's court than in 1991
" 6 out of 10 women are reconvicted within 2 years - 10 years ago it was 4 out of 10
" In 1991, 8 out of 100 women convicted of motoring offences were sent to prison. In 2001, 42 women out of 100 were sent to prison for similar offences
" A large proportion of sentenced women - 41 per cent - are held in prison for drug offences.
" 2 out of 3 women are sentenced to custody for 6 months or less
" Nearly 1 in 3 women prisoners are from minority ethnic groups