Published: 16 March 2007
The Corston Report
Baroness Jean Corston's report on a review of women in the criminal justice system with particular vulnerabilities has been published.
Baroness Corston called for a greater focus on women in the criminal justice system and highlighted the need to take a radical new approach to address the complex and multiple needs of women who offend and those at risk of offending.
Baroness Corston said:
"I am grateful to the Government for inviting me to conduct this important review and I am hopeful that the recommendations I make will be taken forward promptly.
This report focuses on the needs of women with particular vulnerabilities who come into contact with the criminal justice system whose needs are currently not being adequately addressed.
It has been made clear to me during my review that, as a minority in the criminal justice system, women's needs are invariably overlooked.
There needs to be a champion for women so that consideration is given to the differential needs of women; women not just in the criminal justice system but those who are socially excluded and at risk of offending”.
Calling for a cross-departmental response to tackle the needs of this group, Baroness Corston continued:
"In order to effectively address the needs of women offenders and women at risk of offending, the Home Office and other government departments need to work together.
I recommend the immediate establishment of an Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group for women who offend or are at risk of offending to govern a new Commission and to drive forward the Commission's agenda within their individual departments.
It will be the role of the Commission to champion women and set a national specification for services for this group of women.
Baroness Corston called for an extension to women's community centres to enable statutory & voluntary agencies to reach many socially excluded women and women with particular vulnerabilities, saying
"I have also taken into consideration those women in the community who are at risk of offending and whose needs need to be looked at so that their pathways into the criminal justice system can be diverted.
I was very impressed with the women's centres which I visited during my review and the holistic and woman- centred approach to meeting the needs of women. "
Baroness Corston added:
"I am very grateful to all the people who contributed to my review and I look forward to the Government's full response to the recommendations of my report in due course.
The tragic deaths of two female prisoners in January this year highlight that although there have been significant improvements since the series of six deaths at Styal, a radical new approach is needed in regard to the management of women offenders and more widely, women at risk of offending."
The review was commissioned by the Home Office as a result of calls for a public inquiry following the tragic series of six deaths at Styal prison between August 2002 and August 2003.
Home Office Ministers determined that an independent review would be more appropriate as it was believed that a public inquiry would not uncover any facts that have not already come to light through investigations into the deaths and the full public inquests.
The 43 recommendations include calls for:
· a strong, consistent message from the top of Government, with full reasons, in support of its stated policy that prison is not the right place for women offenders who pose no risk to the public
· a high level champion for women to ensure that the needs of women offenders and those at risk of offending are met
· an inter-departmental Ministerial Group to steer change for women who offend or are at risk of offending
· accelerated preparations by all criminal justice agencies to implement the new gender duty and radically transform the way they deliver services for women
· extension of the Together Women Programme to establish a much larger network of women's community centres, some with residential provision
Women's centres should be used as referral centres and court and police diversions for women who offend or are at risk of offending.
Referral should be by schools, GPs, probation, prisons, police, courts, CPS, women themselves, and other individuals
· a commitment within six months to a 10 year programme to replace existing women's prisons with small local custodial units
· An end to routine strip searching in women's prisons
· Improved sanitation conditions as called for by the Chief Inspector of Prisons
Further information
Corston Report
Together Women Programme: Equality Impact Assessment
Focus on female offenders: the Real Women Programme – Probation Service pilot
Women in Prison - What is the government doing?
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