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The Facts
How many women are in prison?
There are currently more than 4,000 women in prison. The women’s prison population has almost tripled in the last ten years although the nature and seriousness of women’s offending has not on the whole been getting worse.
Why are more and more women being sent to prison?
Most of the rise in the female prison population can be explained by magistrates and judges handing out harsher sentences. A woman convicted of theft or handling at Crown Court is now twice as likely to go to prison as ten years ago.
Why are women in prison?
The majority of women are in prison for non-violent offences. In 2004 more women were sent to prison for theft and handling stolen goods than any other crime.
Does prison work?
Two in three women released from prison in 2002 were reconvicted withing two years of release.
How many women are on remand?
Nearly 2/3 of women sent to prison in 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 committed altogether.
What kinds of women are in prison?
Nearly 2/3 of women have a drug problem, over half have suffered domestic violence, one in three has been sexually abused and 2/3 have mental health problems. There are currently more than 4,000 women in prison. The women’s prison population has almost tripled in the last ten years although the nature and seriousness of women’s offending has not on the whole been getting worse.
How long are women in prison for?
The majority of women are in prison for very short sentences. In 2004 nearly two in three were sentenced to custody for six months or less. This means that staff have little opportunity to deliver programmes that can address the reasons that women are offending in the first place.
What happens when they come out of prison?
Around one in three women prisoners lose their homes, and often their possessions, whilst in prison.
Why should I care?
This increased prison population has done little to increase public safety in the long run. Currently nearly six out of ten women released from prison are reconvicted within two years of leaving jail. And eight out of ten female shoplifters find themselves back before the courts within two years.
Who else is affected?
Around 2/3 of women prisoners have dependent children. More than 17,700 children are separated from their mothers each year through imprisonment and only five per cent of children remain in the family home after their mother is sentenced.
What's the best way to reduce women's offending?
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
What should the government do?
Instead of building more women's prisons, the government should invest in more effective alternatives to custody and crime diversion schemes. SmartJustice welcomes the 2004 spending review, which commits money to pilot radical new approaches to meet the needs of women offenders and to reduce the need for custody. This increased prison population has done little to increase public safety in the long run. Currently nearly six out of ten women released from prison are reconvicted within two years of leaving jail. And eight out of ten female shoplifters find themselves back before the courts within two years.
Where can I find out more?
The following organisations and reports provide valuable information about women and the criminal justice system:
Organisations:-
The Prison Reform Trust
15 Northburgh Street
London EC1V 0JR
020 7251 5070
www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk
The Howard League for Penal Reform
1 Ardleigh Road
London N1 4HS
020 7249 7373
www.howardleague.org
Women in Prison
3b Aberdeen Studios
22 Highbury Grove
London N5 2EA
020 7226 5879
www.womeninprison.org.uk
The Fawcett Society
1-3 Berry Street
London EC1V 0AA
020 7253 2598
www.fawcettsociety.org.uk
Lacking Conviction: The Rise of the Women's Remand Population
Kimmett Edgar, 2004, Prison Reform Trust
Young Parents From Custody to Community
Joanne Sherlock, 2004, Prison Reform Trust
Justice for Women: The Need for Reform
The Report of the Committee on Women's Imprisonment, Chaired by Professor Dorothy Wedderburn, 2000, Prison Reform Trust
Women and the Criminal Justice System,
A Report of the Fawcett Society's Commission on Women and the Criminal Justice System
Fawcett Society 2004
Women's Offending Reduction Unit Action Plan
Home Office 2004
