Labour has launched a review of prison sentences that could see fewer women sent to jail. Led by former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke, the review's recommendations are expected to be published in the spring, but his successor, Shabana Mahmood, has already made clear that she wants to dramatically reduce the number of female inmates across England and Wales. Mahmood has announced a new body, the Women's Justice Board, which will have the "ultimate ambition of having fewer women's prisons".
Why do women go to prison? Around 3,600 women are in prison in England and Wales, representing 4% of the total inmate population. Most are behind bars for non-violent crimes, such as drug-related offences and petty theft. The justice secretary has argued that up to two-thirds of the women currently in prison would be suitable for community-based alternatives to jail.
What problems do women face behind bars? Many women arrive in prison "trapped in a cycle of substance abuse, mental health difficulties, homelessness and offending", said Sandra Fieldhouse in a report for HM Inspectorate of Prisons. A third said they had felt suicidal when they were jailed, compared with 14% of men, and rates of self-harm for female inmates are more than seven times higher. More than half of women in prison have suffered domestic violence, or abuse in childhood, according to the Prison Reform Trust. Around 60% have children, compared with 45% of men, and they are more likely to be the primary caregiver.
Could imprisoning fewer women reduce overcrowding? Although unlikely to do much to reduce overcrowding in the prison system as a whole, it could free up additional resources to ease the strain on men's prisons. University of Portsmouth criminology lecturer April Smith told the BBC that most imprisoned women "are not really a threat to public safety" and would benefit more from community programmes. Putting women behind bars, said Stephen Bush in the Financial Times, "is, for the most part, a lose-lose as far as the British taxpayer is concerned". |