The Ministry of Justice have today announced the launch of the Women’s Justice Board with the aim to cut crime and reduce the number of vulnerable women being sent to prison. We believe that alternatives to custody for the two-thirds of women in prison who have survived domestic abuse and the 17,000 children affected when mum goes to prison every year, will have a profoundly positive impact on women, families and whole communities.
Responding to the announcement, Director of External Engagement at Nacro, Helen Berresford said:
“We welcome the launch of the Women’s Justice Board today, which we hope is a pivotal moment in the transition to a fairer justice system for women, as part of a larger shift towards a trauma-informed and evidence-based system for all.
“Whilst we know for many the root causes of women’s offending are linked to inequality – from poverty and mental health issues to experiences of domestic abuse – the punitive focus of our justice system has criminalised the very women who need the most support. The impacts of imprisoning women extend far beyond the individual. The separation of mothers from their children can lead to devastating cycles of disadvantage for entire families.
“It is promising to see that reducing the number of vulnerable women being sent to prison through the consideration of alternative solutions like women’s centres, rehabilitation, and community-based sentences will be top of the agenda for the Women’s Justice Board. Not only does this signal a more humane approach to justice, but evidence also shows us that it is more effective in reducing reoffending in the long-term.
“Nacro have long advocated for justice that prioritises rehabilitation, and we support the Government’s ambitions to break the cycle of crime for women. As we look ahead, we’re hopeful that the collective expertise from this new group will lead to lasting impactful change – to ensure that any woman in or at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system is given the support they need to turn their lives around.”
Learn more about our work
We operate in more than 40 prisons and provide services across England and Wales. We help 28,000 people across our services each year and run the CAS-2 service for the Government housing people coming out of prison on bail or licence. We work with people at every stage of the criminal justice system, from liaison and diversion services in police custody and courts, to resettlement into the community after prison. We use the insights from our services and the experiences of the people we support to campaign together for a criminal justice system which better serves us all. We’ve been working in this field for more than 50 years.