Ministers have made small progress development of alternatives to imprisonment for women- the deputies concluded against the backdrop official predictions that a woman prison population May rise by a third in in next three years.
Conservatives in charge justice the selection committee said that “there won’t be any clear proof that women distracted from jail despite promises to develop other methods of punishment and rehabilitation.
In a report released today, cross-party The committee stated that government It has also failed to address addiction, mental health and trauma issues facing women who enter prison system.
The report calls on Ministry of Justice (DOJ) in ensure what strategies developed to combat problems in in system adequately funded, rolled out efficient and controlled for performance to create meaningful change.
Bob Neal, Chairman of the Conservative Party of The committee stated: “It is disappointing that no significant tangible change has yet taken place. Woman Criminal 2018 strategy important step in recognition of needs of women in in criminal justice systembut more needs to be done to see if it is targeting the right areas and making a meaningful impact.”
Women in in justice system have clear needs and worse outcomes than menprevious official reports have found. They are more probably than men have certain vulnerabilities that drive grievances, including feelings of injury and abuse, and pose less of serious risk to public.
BUT key a task of in the government female criminal strategy that was released in 2018 should be less women in prison. Total dropped from 3958 in February 2017 to 3219 in July 2022 However, DoJ forecasts first published in November, adult female prison population expected 4300 in July 2025 up one third of 3170 in July 2021.
Ministry of Justice analysts calculated that the recruitment of additional 20,000 police officers, potential post-pandemic crime rise and longer jail offers will see prisoner numbers rise.
It’s coming on Top of backlog of 60,000 cases in the royal courts, up by 20,000 during the pandemic.
government indicated that he intends to improve out of judgments that are an alternative to a proportional decision with minor offenses without going to court.
However, the deputies said that nothing had been done so far. clear proof that more women are released from custody along this route.
” government should set out what funding is this plans put in place to support in development of women-specific paths to support alternatives prison phrases. it should also set out time frame for when he expects these services to be in operations,” the statement said.
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Today’s report echoes the conclusions of the State Control in January, which found that the Ministry of Justice set any program goals or objectives that limited her ability evaluate required cost or value for money.
Commenting on report, Peter Dawson, director of The Prison Reform Foundation said it was a disappointing read. “The only significant investment government promised since his female criminal strategy was published in 2018 – £150 million. build 500 additional prison places for women,” he said. “But the strategy’s stated goal was to reduce number of women in detention rather than increase it.
“If he wants to be taken seriously, government must now invest in supporting women in in communityno building more prison cells for them.”
Ministry of A spokesman for justice stated: “Detention is used as last resort for women and since we launched our criminal woman strategy in 2018, number of incoming prison dropped by almost a third.
