The number of women in prison has stabilised in recent years compared to a rising male prison population, but ministers believe figures remain too high when non-custodial sentences can be more effective in terms of rehabilitation for many women.
Ms Follett backed the Government's response to Baroness Corston's report on women offenders as a major step forward. The report, published last year found In December 2007 the government set out their response to the Corston review and in May 2008 a National Service Framework for Women Offenders was published that clearly lays out the government's strategy for addressing the needs of women offenders
The Government has made significant improvements to the way it treats women offenders since the Corston report, which made a number of recommendations to improve the way vulnerable women are treated in the criminal justice system. Last week Ministry of Justice Minister Maria Eagle published a progress report. New commitments include:
- Pilots that are now running in five women's prisons testing a new kind of search which does not require the removal of underwear unless there is intelligence or suspicion at any stage that this is necessary. Searches can be intimidating and distressing, particularly for women who have experienced domestic violence or sexual abuse.
- Piloting a new approach to providing access to community-based services and residential facilities by agencies working in a more integrated way.
- Support to the continued development of the Turnaround project in Wales that demonstrates the value of multi-agency, multi-sector work with women offenders.
- Developing specific guidance and support for offender managers on how to deal with women offenders.
Speaking at the end of her visit Barbara Follett said:
"HMP Peterborough is making good progress in providing an environment in which female inmates can develop the skills and confidence they need to re-build their lives and reduce the chance of them re-offending on release.
"Prison is not necessarily the best way of dealing with women offenders who are, more often than not, very vulnerable individuals with mental health problems; a history of drug misuse as well as sexual and domestic abuse. That is why the Government intends to introduce more community -based sentences for women which will combine punishment with rehabilitation in a way which allows them to continue to meet their family responsibilities whilst repaying their debt to society."
