The Sentencing Review is an opportunity to transform women’s experiences
At Anawim – Birmingham’s Centre for Women we are encouraged by the further details released today about the government’s planned sentencing review. This review, led by former minister David Gauke, is an opportunity to transform women’s experiences of the justice system and end unnecessary short jail terms – which do far more harm than good.
Most women in prison are there for sentences of under six months and for non-violent crimes. Women make up 4% of the prison estate, but 27% of the self-harm incidences. When a woman is jailed 19 times out of 20 her child(ren) must leave their home.
Joy Doal, CEO of Anawim said: “This review is a real and genuine chance to change that, and to provide better outcomes for them, and their families – often secondary victims. We know that the root causes of their offending need to be tackled. Whether trauma, domestic abuse or violence, we need to work on this with the women, rather than routinely imprisoning them for a few weeks at a time, and in the process often leaving them without housing, support, or employment on their release.
We are pleased to see that the board includes experts in violence against women and girls, including Andrea Simon – Executive Director at End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) – of which we are members.
We need investment into alternatives – community-based sentencing delivered by women’s centres alongside Probation work to tackle the root causes of offending – this review will be able to suggest better, kinder, and far more effective ways to move forward for those women caught up in the criminal justice system.”